It’s that time of year again when weather forecasts have us all looking up toward the sky in
anticipation, but when you do you may also want to look a bit lower and assess your trees. If
you have trees, especially large trees, near your home or in your yard it is always a good idea to
go out and make an assessment of their health prior to and after a storm. Here are some of the
most common issues and/or things to look for in your trees:

● Over extended branches particularly if they are over your home.
● Broken, cracked, dead, or otherwise damaged branches.
● Co-dominant stems (multiple trunks)
● Root failure, often most detectable by the appearance of a bulge in the soil near the tree.
● Tree species, size, and age.

When assessing your tree start by standing back and looking from a bit of a distance. Begin with
the base of the tree and scan with your eyes upward assessing the trunk, lower branches, and
upper branches to make sure there is not a hazard present before you approach the tree.

Look for dead limbs which more easily stand out but also keep your eyes peeled for any broken
or cracked branches. Over extended limbs can gather huge amounts of snow and could pose a
problem. Take a look at the trunk and look for cracks or any splitting.

If your tree has one or more co-dominant stems (trunks) it’s best to look at them before the
storm to assess whether their connection points look strong, and then after the storm check that
there hasn’t been any separation of the trunks. If your tree has a lean to it take note of its
position prior to the storm. Most likely your tree has just grown at an angle and has self
corrected and does not pose any significantly greater risk of failure than any other tree. If the
lean appears to have increased take a look at the ground around the base of the tree on the
opposite side of the lean. If the soil is uplifting then it’s time to call an arborist to come in and
make a professional assessment.

Also consider the tree species, size and age. Some types of trees are quick growing which is
great but can mean weaker wood leading to more storm damage. Tree size and age typically go
hand in hand so consider how great a threat your tree poses based on its size and placement
on your property.

At the end of the day if you have trees on your property there is always going to be the potential
for storm damage and the best way to prevent catastrophic issues is to perform these
assessments annually or whenever there is a storm. Seeking professional help from a Certified
Arborist can mitigate the risk posed by your tree, and a little work and care up front can prevent
a massive headache after a large storm.

Author:
Ethan Childs
Seattle Tree Care Project Manager & IPM Specialist
ISA Certified Arborist PN-8393A