Prepare for the Worst: Your Certified Arborist’s Guide to Storm-Proofing Your Trees

Storms can turn your beautiful, established trees into dangerous liabilities in a matter of minutes. Fallen limbs, uprooted trunks, and split branches cause billions in property damage every year.

The good news? The majority of this damage is preventable with proactive, professional tree care.

At Trees and Co., we believe an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cleanup. Here is our essential guide on preparing your landscape for storm season, from preventative pruning to emergency recovery.

Part 1: Proactive Protection—Strengthening Your Trees Before the Storm

The goal of storm preparation is simple: reduce wind resistance, eliminate weak points, and ensure your tree is structurally sound.

1. The Power of Preventative Pruning

This is your first and best line of defence. Proper pruning goes far beyond just tidying up—it strategically shapes the tree to handle stress.

• Remove Deadwood: Dead, dying, or diseased branches are guaranteed to break off in high winds. Removing this deadwood eliminates built-in projectiles and hazards.

• Thin the Canopy: A dense tree canopy acts like a giant sail, catching the wind and putting tremendous stress on the trunk and root plate. Thinning involves selectively removing interior branches to allow wind to pass through the canopy, rather than push against it.

• Correct Structural Weaknesses: We look for weak limb attachments, often called co-dominant stems (where two main branches grow in a "V" shape with included bark). These connections are highly prone to splitting. Strategic pruning can remove or reduce the length of these limbs to promote a stronger, single growth structure.

🛑 A Warning Against "Topping": Never allow a tree to be "topped" (cutting large branches back to stubs). This practice causes rapid, weak new growth that is more likely to break in future storms and dramatically shortens your tree’s lifespan.

2. Cabling and Bracing for Structural Support

Sometimes, mature trees have inherent structural defects or heavy, extended limbs that require extra help. This is where advanced support systems come in.

• Cabling: We install high-strength steel or synthetic cables high in the crown to connect two or more weak branches. The cables restrict excessive movement, helping the limbs support each other in high winds without interfering with the tree's natural sway.

• Bracing: This involves installing steel rods through weak branch unions or split trunks for more rigid support.

Cabling and bracing are specialised techniques that must be performed by a certified arborist to ensure the hardware is installed correctly and the tree's vascular system is not damaged.

3. Comprehensive Tree Risk Assessment

Many serious hazards—like root rot, deep internal decay, or an unstable root plate—are invisible to the average homeowner.

Before a storm hits, have a Trees and Co. Certified Arborist perform a full inspection. We can spot the subtle signs of decay and instability that could lead to catastrophic failure, giving you time to manage the risk safely.

Part 2: After the Storm—Safety and Recovery

If the worst happens, acting quickly and safely is paramount. Your safety and the safety of your family is the first priority.

Immediate Safety Checklist (Do NOT Delay)

Hazard Immediate Action

Downed Power Lines STAY AWAY. Assume all lines are live. Call your local utility provider (e.g. BC Hydro) and 911 immediately.

Tree on House/Structure Evacuate immediately. Do not re-enter. Call emergency services and your insurance company.

Large, Hanging Branches Keep people and pets clear of the area. A partially attached branch can fall at any time.

The Recovery Process: What to Do Next

1. Document Everything: Before moving any debris, take photos and videos of all damage to your home, structures, and vehicle for your insurance claim.

2. Call an Arborist (Not a "Chainsaw Guy"): Emergency tree removal after a storm is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Always call a qualified, insured, and licensed arborist with emergency experience. We have the proper training, equipment (like cranes and heavy lifts), and insurance to handle complex, hazardous removals safely.

3. Resist the Urge to Over-Prune: Your tree needs all its remaining leaves to produce food and begin its self-repair process. After we remove the broken limbs, resist the urge to do cosmetic pruning. We recommend waiting several months to a year before performing any non-essential cuts.

4. Care for Injured Trees: Small, young trees that have been partially uprooted can sometimes be saved by being carefully pulled upright and staked. For any tree you plan to keep, ensure it gets plenty of water, and apply a layer of fresh mulch (kept a few inches away from the trunk) to protect the exposed soil and roots.

The best defence against storm damage is a well-maintained, healthy tree. Don't wait until the next weather warning to assess your landscape.

Protect Your Property Today.

Ready to get a head start on storm season? Contact Trees and Co. Arborist Services to schedule your comprehensive Tree Risk Assessment and preventative pruning consultation.