Aside from being hot, summer is also the season of storms. While it’s a welcome reprieve from the heat, heavy wind and rain can cause damage that requires storm damage cleanup from fallen trees and other debris. It’s best to prepare ahead of the season before severe storms come rolling in.

3 Ways Summer Storms Can Harm Your Trees

1. Damage on Trunks & Branches

Trees with overgrown canopies and branches may look sturdy against winds, but the opposite is true. A thinner canopy with healthy branches reduces the blow from buffeting winds far more effectively than a thicker one. Opt for tree pruning and trimming to remove weakened or decayed limbs, which tend to get blown away and damage properties during a storm.

For trees that have weak areas on their trunks, breaking or snapping is highly likely with the impact of strong winds. However, there are instances when trees split because of an uneven crown. When the wind twists the stems and branches of a lopsided crown, it causes splitting or cracking of the trunk. Have an arborist take a closer look at the trees for signs of disease or failure like open cavities, decays, nesting holes, or fungal growth—you might need to have the tree removed, especially if treatment is no longer possible.

2. Cause Excessive Leaning

Some summer storms bring in more winds than rain as they come, which is bad news for your trees. Aside from breaking branches, they have enough force to pull out big trees from the ground. Leaning or falling happens typically if the tree’s roots are injured, unhealthy, and lacking in nutrients to grow deep and hold fast to the soil. Call for storm damage cleanup right away to prevent a leaning tree from harming others.

3. Uprooting

Roots primarily provide anchorage and stability to trees, but once weakened or diseased, they can’t do so, especially during extreme weather disturbances. Younger trees are more prone to uprooting than older plants. However, you still need to pay attention to signs of a failing root system, like heaving soil and broken roots around the tree. Correct it when possible, but it’s wise to remove it instead of waiting for it to be uprooted during a storm.

Trees, particularly unhealthy or weakened ones, are susceptible to damage from storms this summer. When you need storm damage cleanup, count on the professionals at TrimCo Tree Experts of Dothan, AL. Serving the greater Wiregrass area, their tree specialists provide a broad range of services, including lot clearing, tree cutting, and stump grinding. Call (334) 791-2087 for storm damage cleanup, or inquire via their website.