Snapped tree near Butterfly Beach prompts safety reminder from arborists
A large Eucalyptus tree caused a minor headache for drivers around Montecito Monday morning. The fence along Butterfly Beach took a beating but city and county crews got the road cleared.
Officials say many drought-weakened trees have absorbed moisture from our recent storms causing them to become too heavy for the root system handle.
Santa Barbara County arborists say the roaring, unpredictable wind we’ve seen, can put pressure on the canopy and foliage and anything is possible with mature trees.
The city’s Urban Forest Superintendent says anytime there’s a weather event they get an increase in calls and it’s important to be proactive.
“People shouldn’t wait for a wind event to check their trees. They should have their trees on a regular maintenance schedule, have them checked by an independent arborist who knows what to look for in a tree. If the tree has defects, they have time to do something before a wind event,” said Tim Downey, Urban Forest Superintendent.
Downey says this is not a “do it yourself” type of project. It’s always best to defer to a professional arborist.
Officials say we are in an unpredictable time of year and wind events are likely to pop up in the spring, so if you haven’t checked out the trees on your property now is the time.
