Evaluation of the Fate of Ice Storm-Damaged Urban Maple (Acer) Trees    (View PDF)

Christopher J. Luley and Jerry Bond

Abstract: Annually, ice storms cause millions of dollars of damage to urban trees and infrastructure in the United States and Canada. However, there is limited information to guide judgments on whether to remove ice-damaged trees. This study followed the response of three maple species that were damaged in the 1998 ice storm in northern New York State. Norway (Acer platanoides), silver (A. saccharinum), and sugar maples (A. saccharum) were placed in one of three diameter classes and canopy loss categories and were reevaluated 6 years after the initial damage. Over the 5-year study period, 26.8% of trees were removed, and there was no statistical difference among species, crown loss, or diameter class for these removals. Analysis of a variety of tree health and crown parameters showed that tree species was the most important factor in response, whereas diameter class and crown loss were less important. These results suggest that urban tree managers should consider tree species as an important factor in making removal decisions after an ice storm.

Keywords: Acer platanoides; Acer saccharinum; Acer saccharum; canopy loss; ice damage; maple species; Norway maple; removal rate; silver maple; sprouting; tree response

https://doi.org/10.48044/jauf.2006.027