Severe storms with strong winds and heavy rain remain one of the biggest threats trees face along with insects and diseases. They have the power to take down healthy trees in addition to ones with weakened limbs and trunks. If a storm recently carved a destructive path in your neighborhood, learn what tree care steps you should take next to maintain a safe and attractive property.

Safety Precautions

When dealing with fallen trees, make your safety a priority. You’ll want to avoid injuries from hanging limbs, power lines, and partially uprooted perennials that can fall at any time. Alert your local utility company about downed power lines and related hazards while staying a reasonable distance away from them.

Take pictures of any damage to your home, vehicles, surrounding properties, and other residential structures such as a shed or unattached garage for future insurance claims. Most homeowners insurance policies cover storm damage; however, it’s still a good idea to review coverage with your carrier.

Assessing the Damage

Contact a tree care company and schedule an appointment once you have documented the damage and spoken with your insurance provider. Certified arborists will identify the extent of the tree’s damage to determine if the towering perennials can be saved.

If the tree can’t be saved by pruning or staking, the arborists will recommend removal. They’ll consider the tree’s location in terms of traffic intensity, what it can potentially hit if it falls over, and whether any sections would have structural issues despite trimming. The tree’s appearance after storm cleanup is also taken into account, as excessive trimming or crown removal can create an eyesore that decreases curb appeal.

Next Steps

Work with your arborist to create a plan that promotes safety and avoids hurting your home’s curb appeal. Generally, if over half of the treetop is structurally sound, the woody plant should be able to recover as long as the damaged branches are removed.

Conversely, leaning trees with root damage usually require removal because the roots can no longer provide a solid foundation. If this is necessary, you’ll have to decide if you want stump grinding or complete removal. Stump grinding is affordable and easier on your landscape, while stump removal eliminates the entire root system to prevent decay. 

Schedule storm cleanup with Eden Lawn Care & Tree Service Inc. Based in Lincoln, NE, the tree care and lawn maintenance company features a team of certified arborists and licensed applicators offering Emerald Ash Borer injections, lawn fertilization, and tree trimming among other services. Call the business that’s served residential and commercial clients throughout the region today at (402) 488-3177 for a free estimate or visit the website for a complete service list. Get more tree care tips on Facebook.