Storm Damaged Tree Removal: Risks & Prevention
We always get a high number of calls for storm damaged tree removal after high winds and heavy rainfall because trees have become uprooted or look unstable. But do you know about the less obvious damage to trees that storms and rain can cause?
It is increasingly common for Toronto and the surrounding areas to be hit by extreme weather events over the winter months. Whether it is storms, snow or heavy rainfall, these events pose significant risks to trees and property. Once the weather event has passed without incident, then it is easy to think the risk has also passed. However, there can be a longer term impact that homeowners need to be aware of so they can take action to protect their trees and property after a storm has passed.
Storm damaged tree removal: extreme weather events
Storms unleash a barrage of hazards upon trees. Fierce winds can easily snap branches especially if they were already damaged or weakened. The force of a storm can uproot even the most deeply rooted trees. There is also the risk of impact damage caused by flying debris or falling branches. Along with the risk of people or property being hit by broken branches or flying debris, their impact can also wound the tree, bruise bark and potentially compromise the tree’s structural integrity in the longer term.
Longer term storm damage to trees
In the aftermath of a storm, if there is no obvious sign of damage, it’s tempting to think that the risk has passed. However, trees weakened by repeated weather events may suffer from increased vulnerability to pests and diseases. Wounded bark becomes an entry point for pathogens and pests. Structural damage may not always be immediately apparent, so it is always worth checking trees thoroughly in the Spring to assess their health.
Damage to trees from heavy rainfall and storms
Heavy rainfall can cause damage to property through water ingress or flooding. Once the rain subsides it’s natural to think the risk has too. However, as with storms, very heavy rainfall can pose an immediate or longer term risk to your trees.
How can heavy rainfall pose a risk to trees?
Heavy rainfall, while less dramatic than storms, can inflict its own brand of harm upon trees. Saturated soil becomes unstable ground for roots, risking uprooting or toppling of trees. Excessive moisture can lead to root rot, silently undermining the tree’s vitality. Trees with an existing lean may lean even further under the weight of waterlogged branches and become dangerously unstable.
Storm damaged tree removal caused by heavy rainfall
Whenever there is a period of prolonged rainfall it will weaken the soil, potentially compromising root stability, which increases the likelihood of trees uprooting. This risk is especially significant for trees with shallow root systems or those growing in soils with poor drainage or prone to saturation. Here are some ways that heavy rainfall can damage trees:
Soil becomes saturated
When there is a large amount of rainfall in a short period of time, the soil can quickly become saturated. As water saturates the soil, the surplus water infiltrates the spaces between soil particles and it diminishes its ability to securely anchor the tree roots. This risk is exacerbated when the rain is accompanied by high winds.
Softening of the soil
Saturated soil undergoes a softening process, which compromises its load-bearing capacity. This makes it easier for a tree’s roots to dislodge from the ground, especially in high storms or high winds. The bigger the tree, and the stronger the winds, the bigger the risk of the tree becoming uprooted.
Damage to shallow root systems
Trees with shallow root systems face a heightened risk during periods of intense rainfall. The tree’s roots may not go deeply enough into the soil to anchor the tree robustly, particularly when the soil becomes waterlogged.
Wind-induced stress to trees
Alongside the risks caused by waterlogged soil, wind force during storms can intensify uprooting. As the wind exerts pressure on the tree’s canopy, it creates leverage, exacerbating instability—especially pronounced when the soil is already weakened by saturation.
