Autumn Tree Care: How to Prepare Your Trees for Stormy Weather
As summer comes to an end and autumn begins, it’s a good time to start thinking about how your trees will cope with the months ahead.
Stronger winds, prolonged rainfall and stormy weather can place additional pressure on trees, particularly those that are already damaged, diseased or structurally weak.
At HD Tree Services, we provide professional tree services throughout Mansfield, Chesterfield and the surrounding areas. Taking action early can help protect your property and reduce the risk of emergency tree problems later in the year.
Why Autumn Weather Can Cause Problems for Trees
Healthy, well-maintained trees can usually withstand difficult weather conditions. However, trees with existing weaknesses may be much more vulnerable.
Potential problems include:
- Dead or dying branches
- Cracks in large limbs
- Diseased sections of the tree
- Previous storm damage
- Unbalanced crowns
- Weak branch unions
- Excessively heavy growth
- Trees leaning towards buildings or roads
Strong winds can place significant pressure on these weaknesses and sometimes cause branches or entire trees to fail.
Check for Dead and Damaged Branches
One of the most important steps before stormy weather is checking for deadwood.
Dead branches can become increasingly brittle over time and are more likely to break during strong winds. Depending on the location of the tree, falling branches can damage cars, roofs, fences, sheds or surrounding property.
Professional deadwood removal can reduce these risks while improving the appearance and condition of the tree.
Look for Changes in Your Trees
Sometimes changes in a tree are gradual and easy to overlook.
Keep an eye out for:
- Trees that have started leaning
- New cracks in the trunk
- Broken or hanging branches
- Areas of decay
- Fungal growth
- Large dead sections in the crown
- Movement around the base of the tree
If something doesn’t look right, it’s better to have it checked before severe weather arrives.
Reduce Excessive Growth
Trees with large, dense crowns can catch more wind during storms.
In some cases, professional pruning or crown reduction can help manage the size and structure of a tree. The goal isn’t simply to remove as much as possible, but to carry out carefully planned work that maintains the health of the tree while reducing potential risks.
Our experienced tree surgeons can assess the tree and recommend an appropriate approach.
Don’t Ignore Previous Storm Damage
If a tree has already lost branches during previous storms, it may have hidden weaknesses that are not immediately obvious.
Damaged limbs, split branches or compromised sections of the crown can become worse during the next period of strong winds.
Getting these problems checked now could help prevent an emergency call-out later.
What Happens If a Tree Becomes Dangerous?
Sometimes tree problems cannot be safely solved through pruning alone.
Where a tree is badly damaged, seriously decayed or presents a significant risk, removal may be the safest option.
HD Tree Services provides professional tree removal services throughout Mansfield and Chesterfield. We can safely dismantle and remove trees in difficult locations, including gardens with limited access or trees positioned close to buildings.
Emergency Tree Surgeon Services
Unfortunately, even well-maintained trees can sometimes be damaged during severe storms.
If you have a fallen tree, dangerous hanging branch or another urgent tree-related problem, HD Tree Services can provide professional assistance.
Acting quickly after storm damage can help prevent further damage and make the area safe again.
Prepare Your Trees Before the Weather Changes
The best time to deal with a potentially unsafe tree is before bad weather exposes the problem.
An autumn tree inspection can identify dead branches, structural weaknesses and other concerns early, allowing the necessary work to be carried out safely.
If you’re looking for tree services in Mansfield, tree surgery in Chesterfield or a reliable local tree surgeon, HD Tree Services is here to help.
Contact HD Tree Services today for a free, no-obligation quotation and make sure your trees are ready for the autumn and winter months ahead.
