Trees and Southwestern Ontario Storm Damage

Common types of tree damage

Southwestern Ontario truly gets all four seasons and all sorts of inclement weather.  We’re in the path of Tornado Alley.  We can get high winds, snowstorms, rainstorms, hail, and lightening.  All of these can pose serious damage to the trees on your property.  After a serious storm, you’ll want to contact our Southwestern Ontario storm damage services to ensure your trees do not pose a health risk to you or your property.  Here are some of the most common damages trees can suffer after a storm.

Southwestern Ontario storm damage: Down goes the tree

It’s not uncommon for trees or branches to fall during storms when the force of the wind is too much for the wood structure to withstand.  Unfortunately, there is very little you can do to prevent this.  Your best bet in preventing damage is to keep your tree as healthy as possible.  Don’t abuse the tree and treat pest issues as quickly as possible, since that can weaken the supporting wood.  While caring for your trees, keep in mind that healthy, vigorous trees adjust more quickly to changes in environment, so keep your tree well watered and fertilized.

Southwestern Ontario storm damage: Crown twisting

The crown of your tree includes leaves, twigs, and branches.  While trees are never symmetrical, lopsided crowns can lead to wind loading.  When the tree experiences more wind on one side of the crown than other, it twists the branches on the main stem.  This can result in a split stem or branch collapse.

Your best prevention in this case is to eliminate uneven crowns with prudent pruning.  However, if things are really uneven and more than 70% of the crown is on one side of the tree, consider replacing the tree.

Southwestern Ontario storm damage: Lightening strikes

Lightening can damage a tree in two ways:

  • By moving in a narrow line down the branches, stems and roots.
  • Moving along the tree bole.

The electrical disruption of the lightening as well as the heat can have a lethal effect on your tree, all the way down to its roots.  Furthermore, lightening damage leads to plenty of water.  To add insult to the injury, pests quickly sense the tree’s weakened state and move in for the kill.  Your best bet for the tree after lightening has struck might just be total tree replacement.

Contact Todd’s Custom Tree Removal Services if your tree has suffered any severe storm damage.