Severe weather events often cause damage to property due to falling trees and branches. High winds and saturated soil can weaken the roots of trees and make the branches fragile. During storms, limbs can be torn off or entire trees may fall, leading to property damage, power outages, and even personal injury. Evergreen trees are at higher risk of damage during winter storms because the foliage they retain adds weight and wind resistance.

While it is impossible to completely protect your property and trees from severe storms, some basic procedures can help minimize the risk of damage. However, these risks are not always visible to the untrained eye. Therefore, it is important to have an arborist inspect your trees and conduct a detailed assessment before any remedial treatments are recommended or performed. This could involve climbing inspections or an analysis of decay in the branches, stems, or roots.

An arborist may recommend appropriate treatments such as pruning, and installation of supportive cables, or braces. Trees are valuable and add beauty to your property, so removal should only be considered in high-risk conditions that cannot be effectively mitigated.

It is important to avoid arborists who suggest topping trees as a solution for storm damage prevention. Topping causes problems later in the life of the tree and is prohibited by industry standards.