Caring for Avocado Trees After Wind Damage

After a severe wind event or chronic strong winds that lead to damaged avocado trees there are a few key steps California avocado growers can take.

• Trees that break off at the graft union or near the ground will need to be removed and replaced.
• Avoid planting a new tree very close to where the old tree was planted. Unless the stump is removed and the soil sterilized, the roots from the old tree will still be present and when rotting can be a good source of infection by Phytophthora root rot for the new tree.
• Trees that have tipped over and have large amounts of roots exposed can be left alone if the tree looks like it will recover.  New shoots will emerge from the trunk and form the basic structure of a new tree. The large old branches can be removed over time ultimately reshaping the tree to a more manageable shape.