Freak Hail Storm this morning!

bisco_bonsai

Hi folks,
Well, we had a freak hail storm this morning in Raleigh, followed by a downpour, followed by hot, sunny weather all in the span of a couple of hours. Luckily, I've been stick-building a little greenhouse and just moved my plants in there last week, so none of the got pounded by the near golf ball-sized hail. Has anyone ever had any trees damaged by hail, or any other unusual acts of nature? I look forward to hearing the horror stories.
All the best,
JDL

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John Dixon

JDL,

Not as rough in the Charlotte area, but it did get a little exciting.

Some damage in the past, mostly wind. Hail has to be .5" or so and then it starts breaking branches.

John

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John Dixon

Si vis pacem parabellum

Stay off the trails of others, that's where the booby-traps are.

jjeter

We had a big hail storm here in St. Louis last year in mid May when most of the folks in our club had their trees ourside. May lost small to medium branches that causes several trees that were nearing (1 to 2 years) final or peak design to restart or back up to 3 or 4 years. I haven't heard of anyone that lost a tree, just had some unintended pruning.

Thomas_J.

man don't mention the word "hail storm" to me. I start getting anxiety attacks. See my experience of April 2003 below

April 2003

For about six months after I was still losing trees because of what they went through that night, and I ended up getting rid of a few simply because they were too damaged for me to mess around with.

We are just now entering into that time of the year again, so i'll have to start taking my anti anxiety drugs for the next few months.

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Thomas J.

bisco_bonsai

Wow, I didn't know it could be so bad Thomas J; I'm sorry you had to go through that. I'm surprised that the hail this morning didn't break through my greenhouse roof and cause some serious damage, even though my trees are far from developed in my opinion. I guess it just goes to show that having a controlled environment for growing bonsai is not always a bad idea, especially if you have a significant investment (be it time or money) in this pursuit. The purists would probably disagree, but my little greenhouse saved my trees this morning.
All the best,
JDL

Alasdair

Thinking about greenhouse roofs. I've been looking for the material to build one myself, but am dreading it. The local youths have an unruly tendency to throw stones around so i've been looking at geting some perspex sheeting to build one out of. Surely this would also help stopping those gargantuan hail stones? I've always worried about hail damaging my trees, but seing as i never get them above a few milimetres across i guess i can rest easy now.

But, in takin my sigh of relief from others misfortune, i will put out my condolences to anyone who has suffered the ravages of killer hail.

Al

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I can feel another "I wish that was my tree" moment coming on...
Currently studying BSc Plant Biology at the Universty of Wales, Aberystwyth