and trees. Entire canopy corridors disappeared. A swath now exists immediately east and west of the cottonwood where tall shade trees once stood.
But seeing a tree that had divided pro- fessional opinion, challenged conven- tional recommendations, and required significant investment survive an EF3 tornado was extraordinary. For the Turners, the client, and every- one involved in developing the pres- ervation plan, it was a reminder that thoughtful arboriculture cannot guar- antee outcomes — but it can meaning- fully improve the odds. And sometimes, those odds are enough. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ryfe Greenwood is a pseudonymous writer, arborist and Tree Care Services Business Developer at BrightView Com- mercial Landscapes where he advises clients on general tree and plant health- care strategies tailored to maximize prop- erty and landscape value.
Yet somehow, the cottonwood endured.
From a biomechanical standpoint, the tree performed better than anyone in- volved could have reasonably expected. It did not throw large limbs. No ma- jor structural failures occurred. Only small- and medium-diameter branches were lost during the storm. Can pruning improve a tree’s perfor- mance during severe weather events?
Without question.
Can pruning, fertilization, and growth regulators make a tree immune to ex- treme weather?
Close-up for scale of branch size lost during the May 16th tornado.
Absolutely not.
62 | Summer 2026 ArborTIMES ™
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