When wild weather approaches, trees can turns from friends to foes. If you live in a storm-prone area be sure to get your trees looked at by a qualified arborist when storm season rolls around. They can recommend or provide tree pruning, tree maintenance, or emergency tree removal services to make sure you and your property is safe.
Avoid Liability
Because trees on your property are legally your responsibility, damage caused to other people’s homes could leave you liable. Getting your tree services before the stormy weather is good insurance against costly property damage claims.
Know the Signs
There are five key signs you can look for that will let you know it’s time to call in the professionals:
- Weak or Fractured Limbs
These are limbs or fronds that are incorrectly pruned or are already broken are hazards. Aside from being blown off in a storm, they can weaken trees and leave them susceptible to a disease or infection that later cause the whole tree to fall.
- Diseased or Dead Wood
This is the most common cause of tree failure in storms. One obvious sign of a diseased tree is when a limb that has green leaves ends in brown tips; this is a sign that a tree may be near the end of its life and could easily blow over in a moderate storm.
Other signs to look out for include peeling bark, hollowed areas, decay near branches, and fungus growth at the base of the trunk.
- Waterlogged or Dried out Roots
If trees are located in soil that is consistently too wet or too dry, they may have shallow or unstable roots. Look for roots that appear soggy or that are very dry – this may be difficult to assess yourself, but if you are concerned, consider booking a tree inspection.
- Forked or Split Trunks
Trees with multiple trunks that are roughly the same size are highly susceptible to splitting and falling over, especially during a storm.
- Leaning Trees
Trees don’t always grow straight upwards but if the base of a tree shows cracked soil and exposed roots as well as a significant lean, you need a tree service evaluation.
Get a Professional Opinion
If you see any of these signs – or if you are just unsure about your trees’ safety – get in touch with a professional arborist service. They can assess your trees and recommend the best course of action.
You may simply need some tree pruning to remove dangerous branches or a full tree removal may be necessary. Either way, by calling in properly trained arborists you can be sure the work will be carried out safely and correctly.
What If Damage Still Occurs?
There is no guarantee against damage from trees during a storm. Even healthy trees can lose branches in high winds and a lightning strike could split or topple a tree.
If damage does occur to trees in your area it’s important to find out quickly whether it has made the trees inherently dangerous or not. If so, we offer a 24/7 emergency tree removal service that can get rid of the damaged tree quickly and safely.
