Never is danger greater to a tree than during the inevitable trial by storm. The weight of ice or snow and the fury of wind test the strength of limbs, trunks, and roots. The homeowner, helpless at the moment, can only watch and hope that the tree survives. Survival or loss — the key can be the care you give your tree before and after a storm. Knowing ahead of time what to do when a storm strikes can prevent or minimize your financial loss.
The Right Tree for the Right Place
Tree First Aid After a Storm
1. Take safety precautions. Be on the alert for downed power lines and “widow makers,” dangerous hanging branches ready to fall. And, unless you really know how to use one, leave chain saw work to the professionals.
2. Remove broken branches that are still attached to the tree. Branches should be pruned at the point where they join larger ones, following the steps shown below.
3. Don’t top your trees. Never cut the main branches back to stubs. Ugly, weakly attached limbs will often grow back higher than the original branches and be more likely to break off in a future storm.
Get the full Tree City USA Bulletin No.2 for more tree care tips after a storm strikes.
What about a tree that has been blown over sideways with roots still aattached on the ground? Can it be placed back in an upright position?
Hi Zachary,
This issue comes up frequently after hurricanes. If the tree is small (<4” diameter) than the tree can be righted back into place, have damaged roots cut cleanly, and staked and watered. Some live. But most of the time, anything larger becomes a significant risk after pulling it upright, so we can’t recommend it. Of course, a Certified Arborist on site can help make the best decision. Visit https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/findanarborist to find an arborist in your area who can examine the tree and better guide you on what to do.
Best of luck!
That’s a good idea to remove broken branches before trying to remove the tree itself. I would imagine that eliminates the possibility of them falling on you. On my property, we have a massive tree that needs to be removed but we’ll have to make sure to use a professional tree removal service.
We’ve seen some nasty storms demolish our trees. It’s incredible to see the aftermath of Mother Natures wrath.