The island of Oahu gets serious storms that can damage trees in your yard. Even if a tree is still standing, it may be weakened and will need proper tree care to restore its health and stability. Here's what you and your local tree service company can do right after a storm.

What Should You Do for Your Tree?

1. Assess the Damage

First, observe from a distance to see whether there are any obvious dangling branches, or the trunk is leaning. If anything looks like it might fall, keep away from the tree until a tree company can take a look at it. If there are no obvious hazards, walk under the tree and look for cracked, broken, or dangling branches and trunk damage.

The more injuries the tree has gotten, and the larger the limbs affected, the less likely the tree is to survive; a good rule of thumb is that if more than 50% of the crown is damaged, the tree is unlikely to be salvageable.

2. Arrange Treatment & Tree Trimming

Cracked branches may need to be reinforced or covered to prevent further damage and tree disease. Dangling branches need to be removed, and any broken ends need to be cut off cleanly to let them heal. This work should be handled by professionals for safety reasons, so call a local arborist to fix the damage. They can also remove trees that are too damaged to recover.

3. Clean Up

Remove branches and leaves from the area under the tree. If there is excess water in your yard from the storm, drain it; this will help reduce mosquitoes, as well as allowing the tree's roots to get a firmer grip and protecting them from rot.

Apply new mulch under the tree to protect the roots. Don't apply fertilizer during this type of tree care; in most cases, it won't help the tree's recovery, and overuse of fertilizer can damage the tree. Keep an eye on the tree; the leaves should start to grow back within a few weeks.

For knowledgeable, effective tree care after a storm, choose Ohana Tree Services. Based in Mililani and serving Oahu for over 20 years, they value integrity and are committed to high-quality service. They also provide 24-hour emergency visits. Whenever they trim or remove a tree, they also offer landscaping services for the area around it. Call them at (808) 520-0186 to schedule an appointment or visit them online.