Storm season and what to watch out for

When it comes to storm season, you know what to look out for when it comes to your house. You keep an eye out for leaks, damaged shutters and windows ,and shingles or roof tiles that need replacing. But what do you need to look out for in the garden? 

This is more difficult one to answer because storm damage in the garden might be obvious and it might not be. You can see very quickly if tree branches or leaves have been felled in a heavy storm, but what about trees that have been battered by the weather and that still look reasonably intact? 

That is where things get tricky. Even when a tree has died, it will take a few days to start noticing the leaves withering and falling off. The tree itself can often stay upright for a lot longer, giving the illusion that it is stable. You might even think that there is no urgency in removing it. 

That is, until the root ball withers and the tree starts to fall over or gets completelyuprooted when the next big storm hits. Hopefully, this will happen at a time that no one is nearby and hopefully it won’t damage part of your home. 

So, what can you do to prevent this kind of thing from happening? Your best defense against this kind of damage is vigilance. When the storm is over ,and it is time to clean up, have a good look at the tree. Are there any cracks in it? Are there branches that look unsteady?
 
Check the weightier branches in particular. These might hold on during the storm and have very small cracks showing. Over time, the weight of the branch exacerbates the cracks until it comes crashing down. 

Pay particular attention to branches that are near the house and get loose or damaged branches removed as soon as possible. Otherwise, they can become dangerous projectiles when torn off and hurled around by the wind. 

The next thing to look out for is getting debris removed as quickly as possible. As the debris lies on the ground and rots, it provides the ideal breeding ground and nutrient source for fungus and a range of different insects and pests. 

The longer you leave it there, the greater the chances are that the debris will become its own little microcosm. Which is great in a big forest, but not something that you want happening in your backyard. 

If you are not sure what signs to look out for and you suspect that a tree is damaged, or the job of clearing the fallen branches is too big of a job for you, you should get a professional in to give you a quote. 
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It will cost a bit more than doing it yourself, but there are safety issues to consider as well. Do you have all the right gear to take down a tree? What if the tree could be saved? An expert has the knowledge, tools and experience to get the job done properly. Click here to get some more tips on tree maintenance.