WHAT TO DO ABOUT STORM DAMAGE TO YOUR TREES BEFORE CALLING AN EMERGENCY TREE SURGEON

Winter storms can shred foliage, snap limbs, and even destabilise entire trees in a matter of minutes. While serious damage often demands urgent, professional Tree Surgery, there’s a lot you can do immediately and safely.

Here’s a practical, step-by-step guide on what to do about storm damage to your trees before calling an emergency tree surgeon.

Safety first: secure the scene

Assume all wires are live. If a tree or branch has brought down power lines or is touching utility lines, keep everyone at least 10 meters/30 feet away and call your utility provider and emergency services.

Stay off ladders and roofs. Wind-damaged trees are unpredictable. Ladders, rope, and chainsaws in storm conditions are a high-risk combination.

Look for red-flag hazards:

• Hanging or broken branches above walkways, driveways, or play areas
• Split trunks or major cracks in large limbs
• Heaving or lifting soil around the base, fresh leaning, or exposed roots
• Impact to structures, vehicles, fences, or neighbouring property
• Gas odours, damaged meters, or broken sprinkler/irrigation lines
• Keep people and pets away. Use cones, bins, rope, or tape to cordon off danger zones.

Triage the damage

Sort affected trees into three categories. This helps you prioritise what truly requires an Emergency Tree Surgeon.

Immediate hazards: Call immediately

• Tree on or against a structure
• Broken limbs suspended overhead
• Uprooted or heavily leaning tree threatening targets
• Splits at the trunk or major unions
• Utility involvement of any kind

Urgent but stable: Call soon

• Large broken limbs on the ground
• Partial canopy loss with significant tearing
• Minor trunk wounds that could invite decay or pests
• Cosmetic or non-urgent: Schedule later
• Small broken twigs and branch tips
• Light canopy thinning with no structural damage
• Scraped bark and minor foliage loss

Document the damage for insurance

• Take wide-angle photos first, then close-ups of damage, from multiple angles.
• Capture context: targets under or near the tree, roof or fence impacts, and any utility proximity.
• Note the date, time, weather conditions, and any immediate actions you took.
• Keep receipts for temporary safety materials like caution tape, tarps, or barriers.

Safe, simple actions you can take now

• Only do what’s clearly safe from the ground. Anything that requires climbing, cutting large wood, or working near tensioned limbs should be left to a Tree Surgeon.
• Clear small debris. Remove fallen twigs and small branches you can lift easily. Leave anything heavy or entangled.
• Protect traffic areas. Move vehicles, bins, and garden items out of fall zones and away from the tree’s base.
• Isolate hazards. Use tape or rope to keep children, pets, and visitors away from the area.
• Care for small trees and saplings:
• If a small tree (<5 cm / 2 inches trunk diameter) is tilted but not uprooted, you may gently straighten it and secure with soft, flexible ties to two stakes. Keep ties loose enough for slight movement. Remove stakes in 6–12 months.
• Cover exposed roots with moist burlap or mulch, not soil, to preserve moisture and reduce stress.
• Make very small, clean cuts:
• You can prune torn twigs or small branches under about 2–2.5 cm (3/4–1 inch) diameter using clean, sharp hand pruners.
• Cut back to the branch collar without leaving stubs. Do not use wound paint or sealants.

Water and mulch:

After severe wind, a deep soak can reduce stress. Apply 5–8 cm (2–3 inches) of mulch around, but not touching, the trunk.

What not to do

• Don’t top the tree. Removing the top or making big heading cuts increases long-term risk and decay.
• Don’t cut load-bearing or tensioned wood. Twisted, bent, or compressed branches can spring violently.
• Don’t attempt cabling, bracing, or climbing. These are specialised tree surgery tasks for a Certified Arborist.
• Don’t grind stumps or remove major roots immediately after a storm without professional guidance; you may destabilise nearby trees or structures
• Don’t work near utilities

When to call an Emergency Tree Surgeon immediately

• A tree or large limb is on a roof, vehicle, or fence, or blocking emergency access
• You can see a split trunk, major crack, or a large, hanging branch overhead
• The tree has shifted, is freshly leaning, or the root plate has lifted
• Any involvement with electrical, phone, or cable lines
• You feel unsafe around the tree for any reason

How to prepare your property for a professional visit

• Provide clear access: Move vehicles and obstacles from driveways or gates.
• Secure pets and inform neighbours if shared access is needed.
• Share your documentation: Photos, notes, and any insurance claim numbers.
• Identify priorities: Safety first, then structure protection, then tree preservation.
• Ask about permits: Some areas require permits for removals or major pruning; your Certified Arborist may help navigate this.

Repair, recovery, and long-term care

• Professional pruning: Corrective pruning by a Certified Arborist restores structure, removes torn wood, and reduces future failure risks.
• Cabling and bracing: For valuable trees with split unions or heavy limbs, a professional may recommend structural support systems.
• Soil and root care: Decompaction, compost, mulch, and proper irrigation help stressed trees recover.
• Monitoring: Re-check after the next wind event. Hidden cracks or root damage can progress.
• Replacement planning: If removal is necessary, choose storm-resilient species suited to your site. Plant correctly and schedule structural pruning in years 1–3.

Frequently asked questions

• Can a storm-damaged tree be saved? Many can. If less than about 25–30% of the canopy is lost and the trunk and roots are intact, recovery is likely with proper tree surgery.
• Should I use wound paint on broken branches? No. Modern best practice is to make clean cuts and allow natural compartmentalisation.
• How fast should I act? Address immediate hazards right away. For less urgent damage, a few days won’t typically change outcomes and may allow better scheduling and pricing.
• Will insurance cover Tree Surgery? Policies vary. Damage to insured structures is often covered; debris removal and preventative work may be partially covered. Document thoroughly and contact your provider.

Quick checklist: What to do about storm damage to your trees before calling an Emergency Tree Surgeon

• Keep everyone away from hazards and assume all lines are live
• Photograph damage from multiple angles and note times
• Cordon off the area and move vehicles and valuables
• Safely remove only small, loose debris you can lift
• Make minor, clean cuts on small torn twigs if safe
• Support small saplings and cover exposed roots
• Triage trees: immediate hazards vs urgent vs cosmetic
• Call a qualified Tree Surgeon for assessment and emergency tree surgery if needed