What to Do After Storm Damage to a Tree

Not every broken branch requires emergency service. Some damage can safely wait for a scheduled evaluation. Other damage should be addressed quickly.

Call for prompt professional help when you see:

• large hanging branches
• a split trunk
• a major broken leader or stem
• a tree leaning suddenly after a storm
• root movement or lifted soil
• a partially uprooted tree
• large branches on a home, garage, vehicle, street, or driveway
• damage blocking access
• branches threatening occupied areas
• multiple large failures within the same tree

If utility lines are involved, keep clear and contact the utility first.

Sometimes. The amount of visible damage is important, but it is not the only factor.

A tree may still be worth preserving when:

• the trunk remains sound
• major structural branches remain intact
• the root system is stable
• enough healthy canopy remains
• the damaged branches can be pruned appropriately
• there is no severe decay or major structural defect
• the species and overall condition support recovery

A tree may be less likely to recover when there is:

• major trunk splitting
• extensive root failure
• severe uprooting
• loss of most of the canopy
• multiple major structural failures
• advanced decay
• serious pre-existing decline

The right decision should be based on the remaining tree, not just the branches that fell.

A large branch failure can leave a significant wound and change how weight is distributed through the canopy.

Whether the tree remains viable depends on:

• where the branch failed
• how much live canopy was lost
• whether the trunk was damaged
• whether other major branches were weakened
• the age and species of the tree
• previous defects
• tree health
• root condition

A single large branch failure does not automatically mean removal is necessary. But the remaining structure should be evaluated before deciding what to prune next.

A split trunk or major branch union is more serious than ordinary broken twigs or small branches. Cracks and splits can affect how forces move through the tree and may indicate that a major structural connection has failed.

Some situations may have management options. Others may make preservation unrealistic.

Important factors include:

• depth and location of the split
• whether the split is actively opening
• amount of remaining sound wood
• tree species
• existing decay
• canopy weight
• root stability
• what is located beneath the tree

Do not attempt to pull a split tree back together with improvised straps, chains, or hardware. A structural evaluation should come first.

A tree that has leaned for many years is different from a tree that suddenly changes position after a storm.

A new lean deserves attention, especially when combined with:

• lifted soil
• cracking around the root zone
• exposed roots
• movement at the base
• recent wind damage
• saturated soil
• partial uprooting

Sudden root movement can indicate that the anchoring system has been compromised. Keep people away from the fall zone and have the tree evaluated promptly.

Denver's heavy wet snow can place substantial additional weight on branches. Damage can be especially severe when snow accumulates on trees that still have leaves, dense canopies, weak attachments, or long horizontal limbs.

Snow loading may cause:

• branch bending
• broken limbs
• split unions
• top failure
• canopy distortion
• whole-tree failure in already compromised trees

Not every bent branch is permanently damaged. Some branches may recover after snow melts. Others may have cracks or attachment damage that are not immediately obvious.

Avoid aggressively shaking or striking heavily loaded branches from underneath.

Broken branches should eventually be addressed, but homeowners should not assume every damaged branch should be cut immediately without considering how it is attached.

Small, accessible debris on the ground is different from:

• hanging limbs
• large partially attached branches
• branches under tension
• broken limbs high in the canopy
• branches resting on structures
• damage near utility lines

Improper cuts can cause additional tearing and create more damage. Large or elevated storm damage is better handled by trained tree-care professionals.

No. Tree topping is not a proper repair strategy for storm damage.

Removing large sections of healthy canopy simply to make a damaged tree shorter can create additional problems, including:

• large wounds
• weak regrowth
• decay
• loss of natural structure
• additional stress
• future branch failure

The goal after storm damage should be to preserve appropriate healthy structure where possible while removing branches that are broken, unsafe, or no longer viable.

Tree Pros does not recommend routine tree topping.

Removal may be the practical recommendation when storm damage has compromised too much of the tree. Examples may include:

• severe uprooting
• major root failure
• trunk splitting with poor remaining structure
• loss of most of the canopy
• multiple major scaffold branch failures
• advanced decay combined with storm damage
• a tree that was already severely declining
• a damaged tree that presents an unacceptable concern to surrounding property

Removal should not be based on appearance alone. Some trees look dramatically damaged after a storm but still retain enough sound structure to recover. Others may look relatively intact while serious root or trunk damage has occurred. That is why evaluation matters.

Emergency work often focuses on the immediate hazard. Long-term tree care may require a second look after the urgent problem is addressed.

Follow-up may include:

• additional pruning
• monitoring new growth
• evaluating remaining structure
• checking for decay
• watering during dry conditions
• plant health care
• reviewing nearby trees that experienced the same storm

A tree that survives the initial storm damage may still need monitoring as it responds over the following months and years.

Yes. Storms often expose weaknesses that existed before the weather event.

Those can include:

• weak branch attachments
• included bark
• decay
• dead branches
• poor previous pruning
• root problems
• imbalanced canopies
• old cracks
• structural defects

That does not mean every tree that loses a branch was unhealthy. Healthy trees can also be damaged by severe weather. But understanding why a failure occurred can help guide what happens next.

Tree Pros provides 24/7 emergency tree service throughout the Denver metro. Our team includes three ISA Certified Arborists, and every crew leader is an ISA Certified Arborist.

When we evaluate storm damage, we look at both the immediate problem and the condition of the tree that remains. That includes:

• broken branches
• hanging limbs
• trunk condition
• major branch unions
• root movement
• tree lean
• remaining canopy
• existing decay
• surrounding structures
• property access
• whether preservation is reasonable

The goal is not automatically to remove the tree. If damaged portions can be addressed and the tree can reasonably be preserved, we will say so. If the remaining structure makes removal the practical recommendation, we will explain why.