Storms can pose a significant risk to trees and homes in the Twin Cities. Taking proactive measures to prevent storm damage and properly caring for your trees is crucial to ensure their health and the safety of your property.

We’ll provide tips on protecting your trees from strong winds, heavy rain, and storm damage — before and after the next storm hits.

Tips for Preventing Storm Damage

Storms can be unpredictable and destructive, causing harm to your property. However, you can minimize the risks to your trees with a few simple and effective strategies, such as:                                

• Scheduling routine tree maintenance: Regular tree maintenance is essential in areas prone to storms. Schedule annual inspections with ISA Certified Arborists that are familiar with the local climate and trees. They’ll identify and address any weak branches, diseases, or structural issues that could become hazardous during storms and provide any necessary plant health care.
• Pruning and thinning your trees: Trim your trees regularly to remove dead or weakened limbs. Thinning the tree’s canopy allows wind to pass through more easily, reducing the chances of uprooting or broken branches.
• Considering tree selection and placement: When choosing new trees for your property, consider their ability to withstand stormy conditions. Select species well-suited for your landscape and plant them safely distanced from buildings, power lines, and other structures to prevent damage from falling limbs or uprooting.

Tips for Tree Care Before and After a Storm

Proactive tree care can prevent hazardous situations and ensure the long-term well-being of your trees. To prevent storm damage and promote tree health in the aftermath of a storm, you should:

• Prune overly long tree branches to reduce their vulnerability to strong winds.
• Remove tree branches with cracks to prevent breakage during heavy storms.
• Trim branches that hang over houses, structures, cars, or pathways to mitigate the risk of damage or injury.
• Shorten branches that are as thick as or thicker than the tree trunk to maintain proper weight distribution.
• Remove or trim low-lying branches that obstruct walkways or pose a tripping hazard.
• Eliminate all tree limbs affected by rot to enhance overall tree stability and prevent limb failure.
• Address branches that are rubbing against each other to prevent bark damage and potential disease.
• Contact your power company for necessary pruning to ensure safety and prevent electrical hazards if you have any tree branches near or in contact with any power lines.

Getting through the storm without significant fallen debris is only half the battle. Weakened branches and trees pose a risk to your safety, so you should carefully assess your trees for any visible damage, including broken branches, uprooting, or leaning. If you notice any of these issues, reach out to a local tree company for tree removal or remediation services.

Choose Bratt Tree Company for Expert Tree Care in the Twin Cities

Bratt Tree Company offers professional tree services to help protect your home and trees from storm damage. By taking preventive measures and hiring our experienced tree care experts, you can safeguard your trees and enjoy a resilient and beautiful landscape for years to come.

Protect your Twin Cities property from storm damage with help from our team. Schedule an appointment with us by calling 612-721-4153 today!