Storm Damage

Most damage to property during severe weather events occurs due to falling trees and limbs. High winds and saturated soil conditions typical of winter storms can cause tree roots to fail and branches to weaken. Limbs may be torn free during storms or an entire tree may fall, causing power outages, property damage, and even personal injury. Trees that retain foliage in winter such as conifers and certain oaks are most at risk for damage because the foliage adds weight and wind resistance.

While it is impossible to totally protect your trees and property from severe storms, there are some basic procedures that can help reduce the risk of damage. The certified arborists at Bartlett Tree Experts can inspect for defects and conditions that could predispose your trees to failure.

In many cases these hazards are not always obvious to the untrained eye and correcting them can be a dangerous job. That's why before remedial treatments are recommended or any work is performed, a Bartlett arborist will fully inspect trees and conduct a more detailed assessment if needed. This could even include a climbing inspection or an analysis of decay that may be present in the branches, stems, or roots.

Based on the outcome of an inspection, Bartlett may recommend appropriate treatments such as pruning, installation of supportive cables or braces, and even lightning protection systems. Trees provide beauty and add value to your property, so removal should only be considered where high-risk conditions exist that cannot be effectively mitigated.

Never utilize the services of an arborist who proposes topping trees as a solution to storm damage prevention. Topping leads to problems later in the life of the tree and is expressly prohibited by industry standards. Additionally, an arborist should not use climbing spikes when performing maintenance procedures as they create wounds in stems that can lead to insect and disease infestations. These are just two issues you'll never need worry about when you choose Bartlett Tree Experts to handle your tree and shrub care needs.