How to Prepare Your Trees for High Winds and Heavy Rain
When summer storms roll through, your trees can be both your property’s greatest asset and its biggest risk. High winds, heavy rain, and saturated soil can turn weakened or poorly maintained trees into dangerous hazards.
At Advanced Arborist LLC, we believe the best time to prepare your trees for storm season is before the wind starts blowing. Here’s how you can protect your home, family, and landscape.
1. Schedule a Professional Tree Risk Assessment
Not all tree hazards are obvious to the untrained eye. Our ISA Certified Arborists can identify hidden weaknesses—like internal decay, root damage, or structural cracks—that could cause failure in a storm.
Tip: Have your trees inspected at least once a year, especially before peak storm season.
2. Prune for Strength, Not Just Appearance
A proper pruning strategy reduces wind resistance, removes dead or diseased limbs, and promotes healthier growth.
Remove deadwood to prevent falling branches.
Thin dense canopies to allow wind to pass through.
Eliminate crossing limbs that can rub and weaken each other.
Remember—storm prep pruning isn’t the same as “topping.” Topping can cause long-term harm and create more hazards.
3. Check for Root & Soil Stability
After weeks of heavy rain, soil can loosen, and root systems can destabilize.
Signs of trouble include:
Trees leaning more than usual
Cracks in the soil near the base
Exposed roots
Early intervention can often save a tree before removal becomes necessary.
4. Install Cabling or Bracing for At-Risk Trees
Some mature trees have multiple trunks (co-dominant stems) or heavy limbs that need extra support. Cabling and bracing can help hold them together under stress from wind or ice, reducing the risk of breakage.
5. Remove Trees That Can’t Be Saved
As much as we love preserving trees, some are simply too damaged, diseased, or unstable to withstand a storm. Removing them before severe weather hits can save you from far more expensive damage later.
6. Clear the Area Around Trees
Secure outdoor furniture, grills, and other yard items that could be damaged by falling branches—or cause damage themselves if thrown by the wind.
Why Storm Prep Matters
Taking action now not only protects your property but can also save you from emergency calls in the middle of the night. Preventative care is always more affordable and less stressful than post-storm cleanup.
Call (813) 406-5413 today for a free tree health evaluation and storm-prep consultation.
Visit AdvancedArboristLLC.com to schedule your service online.
Protect your home, preserve your trees, and trust the experts at Advanced Arborist this hurricane season.
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