Written by Stacy Welner | 03 May 2010

After last winter's devastating windstorm, which toppled countless mature spruce and other trees throughout town and caused massive power outages and property damage, it seems that the most seen commercial trucks on Harpswell roads are logging trucks. As loads of timber exit town, it looks like Harpswell could be a future site for an episode of the History Channel's Axe Men.
Several of these storms accompanied by unrestricted severe wind off the ocean produced gusts and microbursts capable of felling trees in windrows, which are visible throughout the islands and peninsula. Harpswell Neck resident and commercial wharf owner, Malcolm "Laddie" Whidden reported a gust in excess of 90 mph on his wind meter during one such storm.
The storm damage to many of our trees came in several ways, blow-down, stem failure, crown twist and branch failure. Also exacerbating the problem is Harpswell's shallow soil, which does not allow trees to develop a deep root system.
The first and most severe damage occurs when the main stem or central trunk of the injured tree, splits off or is broken. Larger, mature trees are most susceptible to this damage. Strength of the remaining stem is reduced immediately according to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service.
There are steps a property owner can take to repair and prevent future damage. According to Jeff Gillis, owner of Welltree Tree Care Specialists, every tree on the property should be addressed. Special attention should be given to those trees that are still standing. The root system should be inspected for movement and damage. "If it doesn't look right, ask," he notes. Safety is a major concern for him. Trees that are leaning or resting against another are under extreme tension, and cutting them can cause a sudden release of energy, which can be extremely dangerous to a non-expert.
Gillis prefers that the organic material from the damage be left to protect existing, standing trees. Chips from the blown down material spread 3-4" thick on top of the roots provide stabilization to the remaining trees. Gillis remarked that a chipper is a dangerous piece of equipment in the hands on an untrained operator. "I can't emphasize safety enough," he states. Gillis also notes that if your property contains enough large fallen timber, a local logger might be willing to haul it away for free.
As the weather dries towards summer, the blown down material will provide a potential home for insects and animals, but will also constitute a fire hazard. Selectman Mark Wallace encourages residents to assure that their property is clear of storm-damaged material and bring it to the Recycling Center where it can be safely disposed of. Harpswell Recycling Center manager, Fred Cantu, has announced that the disposal fee for brush has been reduced by 50% to $60 per ton through May 15, 2010. To participate, bring your brush to the scales at the Recycling Center, have your vehicle weighed, and after disposing your material, return to the scales where your vehicle will be weighed for a second time to determine the weight of debris. Cantu notes that the brush brought to the Recycling Center is ground up for mulch, and sold to dealers. "You might find your tree sometime in a bag at a garden center," he joked.
The potential of fire danger has not gone unnoticed by our fire and rescue community. "Our town fire departments are aware that we are facing a potential fire threat this summer as blown down material dries out, and will do our best to protect our fellow citizens. To help us, we urge all property owners to act responsibly to reduce the fire danger," notes Deputy Fire Warden Linda Strickland.
Harpswell has several excellent local tree services, Vail's Tree Service and Welltree, which can provide assistance in removing and repairing damaged tress. The Maine Forest Service (MFS) also provides technical expertise on topics such as new tree planting and tree maintenance through Project Canopy, a cooperative effort of the MFS and the Pine Tree State Arboretum. For more information call the MFS at 1-800-367-0223 or http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs