Storms are powerful events, and they can cause damage not only to homes and properties, but also to other natural elements like trees. And when this happens, the tree can become unstable, posing a falling risk or drop large limbs, or can otherwise be a hazard to the surrounding area.
And if you have any old and large trees around your property or in your St. Louis neighborhood, then you can imagine how much damage they could do if post-storm maintenance wasn’t addressed. Giving trees first aid after a storm is essential to the safety of your family, property, and tree, and that’s why Jackson Tree Service specializes in after-storm tree first aid.
What Happens to Trees During Storms?
Many different elements that can damage trees during storms, including high winds, hail, lightning, and ice. At the end of a severe storm, you could have:
- Large limbs or branches that have been knocked off or partially torn
- Limbs that are frozen and laden with ice
- A tree that’s been struck by lightning, which could cause many different types of damage, including broken limbs or complete destruction of the tree
- An entire tree that’s been toppled over
- A tree with decay in the trunk can crack and fall over
- Damage that Injured Trees Can Cause
One of the most common and hazardous consequences of tree damage during a storm is power lines that get knocked out. And not only is this an inconvenience (because you lose power to the neighborhood), but it can also be a life-threatening situation if there are live wires exposed. On top of that, large limbs and branches can fall on people, other trees, your home or car, a neighbor’s home or car, or anything else in the general vicinity.
A tree that’s been damaged in a storm can cause plenty of destruction afterward as well, which is why it’s so important that you address it right away. Moreover, a tree that has wounds must be tended to, because otherwise disease and pests may set in, and this could cost the tree its life.
Post-Storm First Aid Basics
Depending on the extent of the damage, first aid can often be done to repair the tree and protect it from further damage, or from causing any destruction. Some of the most common first aid services that trees need after a storm include corrective pruning to remove branches and limbs, cabling and bracing to support trees that have been split, repairing wounds and torn bark, and straightening trees that have been minorly uprooted.
Taking Safety Precautions After a Storm
Even though a tree looks fine after a storm, there may still be major issues that could cause problems if they’re not addressed. Only a tree service will be able to properly identify these issues, which is why you must take extreme precautions when performing work on or near a tree after a storm. Here are a few tips to keep yourself and your family safe:
- Never walk underneath hanging limbs and branches
- Always look up and down when you’re near the tree or doing work on it
- Right after the storm, be on the lookout for downed power lines
- Don’t climb into a tree that may have been damaged, or that has hanging limbs or branches
It’s not always necessary to remove a tree that’s been damaged in a storm, and a professional will be able to assess the damage and the risk to come up with a first aid treatment plan for the tree.
Whether you’re dealing with dropped or dangling limbs, a wound, or a partially or fully uprooted tree, it’s important that you call a professional and have the damage addressed right away before the tree can cause any destruction, and before the damage causes more problems for the tree. At Jackson Tree Service, we offer a 24-hour emergency tree service for these types of situations.