Some Winter Storm Damage Can Be Prevented, Says Yardcrew.com

Winter storms across the country have left homeowners with fallen trees and other debris to clean up. Landscapers and yard care contractors can treat damaged trees before the next storm arrives to prevent some of the costly property damage, reports Yardcrew.com.

(PRWeb) February 13, 2007 -- The devastating winter storms that recently ripped through Washington, Florida and Missouri left fallen trees and debris that has homeowners searching for long-term help. According to Yardcrew.com, the essential yard services Web site connecting landscaping consumers and contractors, while the winter storms created millions of dollars in damage, some trees that were destroyed were in poor shape from lack of care. Residents seeking landscape services, including immediate and professional debris cleanup, can find invaluable resources at Yardcrew.com.

Powerful ice storms, record winds and tornadoes surged through the country at the end of 2006 and the first few weeks of 2007. According to the Associated Press, a January 12 ice storm destroyed trees throughout Oklahoma neighborhoods. Resident Mike Mackey reported from a homeless shelter that, "It looks like Godzilla came through there and just stomped them all down."

The News-Leader in Springfield, Mo., reported that residents were still trying to clean up debris from fallen trees when another ice storm struck again a few days later. While municipalities and federal governmental agencies clean up streets and buildings, most homeowners have to do their own cleanup and debris removal on their property, Yardcrew.com reports.

There are things homeowners can do before the storm arrives, according to experts. Kim Coder, Professor at the Warnell School of Forest Resources, writes in "Storm Damaged Trees: Prevention and Treatment" that homeowners can help minimize storm damage from fallen trees by attending to routine landscape maintenance. Coder reports that past abuse, pest infestations and poor upkeep can predispose trees to storm damage.

Other structural problems can also render trees vulnerable to wind and ice. Ice storms in particular strike trees at their branch collars, leaving weakened forks, Coder says. Landscapers can carve out pest-damaged limbs, shore up weak root systems, remove dead or broken branches and install lightning protection systems.

Yardcrew.com provides resources for homeowners looking for debris removal and long-term tree and yard maintenance. Homeowners visiting the Web site:

•    Receive up to four bids from local landscaping contractors

•    Can request recurring maintenance

•    Can request landscape design and installation

For landscapers looking to connect with consumers, LandscapeLeads.com is the premier source of online consumer-generated landscaping project leads. Site tools can put landscapers in touch with homeowners who are looking for help with winter storm debris cleanup as well as long-term assistance as well as commercial clients.

Yardcrew.com is the essential yard services Web site connecting residential and commercial customers with top landscape service providers. The site specializes in providing customers with quotes from premiere landscapers in specific geographical locations.

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