Summer Storm Damage Heightens Need For Tree Inspections

This summer, we’re getting more than our normal share of heavy wind and rain storms, and it’s taking its toll on our trees. We’re called out after each storm to remove trees from power lines so that electricity can be restored. Over the past few weeks, however, we’ve also been very busy removing tree limbs and whole trees from house roofs. High winds can cause even healthy trees to lose leaves and small branches. While much of this is just natural shedding, it still needs to be cleaned up.Invariably, people ask me if storm damage can be prevented. My answer never wavers, and it is not the old standby, “It depends.” Rather, it is always “Yes!” Whatever the trees’ health, storm damage prevention begins with a hazard tree inspection by one of our 10 Certified Arborist.A Certified Arborist can determine if a tree is healthy or if it suffers from nutrient deficiency, rot, pest damage or other factors that can weaken branches, or even the whole tree.The arborist will also check for dead, dying, weak, broken or hanging branches that are hazardous. Even if you didn’t suffer any tree damage in the last storm, it may have weakened your trees to the point that the next storm could result in damage.As tree owners, we have a responsibility to be sure that they are healthy enough to withstand a storm. During a recent storm, two innocent people were driving on a public highway when a large, heavy tree branch broke, crashed through power lines and on to the top of their car, killing both of them.In the event of a storm, the only clean up or repair you should ever think of doing is to clean up small branches on the ground and rake up any downed leaves. Even that should be approached with caution since you don’t know what danger is lurking overhead. My best advice is call now, before you need our services, to come out and conduct a hazard tree inspection. If any remedial work needs to be done, have it done right away before we have another storm. This is the key to preventing tree failures and the devastation such failures can create.