When the windstorm settles, the first question is whether your trees are safe to be around. The goal right after the gusts die down is not to fix everything; it is to spot the obvious risks without touching anything, keep people away from danger, and decide whether a certified arborist needs to come out. You can do a useful scan in no time if you know where to look and what to avoid.
Safety First, Always
Treat any downed or low power line as live, stay back at least 10 metres, and call 911. If visibility is poor, wait for daylight. Keep children and pets out of the area. Wear sturdy footwear and eye protection if you must move around the site, and do not climb or cut.
How to Check Trees After a Windstorm
Begin at ground level and work your eyes up the tree. This keeps the check organized and it helps you notice small changes that signal bigger problems.
Root Plate and Soil
The “root plate” is the shallow, wide zone of main structural roots that anchors the tree. Look for fresh mounding of soil on one side of the base, new cracks opening in the ground, or a lean that was not there yesterday. Most tree roots are concentrated in the top 12 to 18 inches, which is why shallow soil movement tells you a lot about anchorage. If the ground is saturated from rain, anchorage is weaker and wind-throw is more likely, especially on exposed sites.
Trunk and Unions
A “union” is where a branch or stem meets the trunk. If bark is trapped between two stems, that is called included bark and it creates a weak union that can split in wind. Scan for fresh cracks, new bark splits, or any gap that seems to be opening at a junction.
Canopy
A “hanger” is a broken branch that is lodged in the crown. Hangers can fall later without warning. Step back where you can see the whole tree and look for broken tops, newly lopsided shape, or anything hanging that was not there before.
What You Can Safely Do Today
Begin with documentation. A clear, time-stamped record keeps people safe, helps a certified arborist assess changes, and can support insurance or municipal requirements.
Here’s how to do that safely without taking risks: take a few wide photos that show the tree and what it could hit, then a few close-ups of any cracks or lean. Note the date and the wind event in your phone or on your computer. Mark the area off so people do not walk under a suspect tree. You can pick up small loose branches or twigs that are fully on the ground and not under tension. Stop there. Anything bigger than light cleanup should wait for a pro.
What To Leave To Pros
Cutting trees damaged in a windstorm is risky because branches and stems can hold stored energy under compression or tension. When the energy releases, it can strike you, kick your saw, or knock you from a ladder. Leave any overhead or tensioned wood to a certified arborist. Leave all cutting, climbing, and anything more than light cleanup to trained crews with proper equipment.
What Not To Try
Do not try to pull a large, partially uprooted tree back upright with a vehicle, winch, or ropes. Sudden movement can roll or snap the tree back, tear roots and underground utilities, and cause serious injury or property damage. Lines and hardware can fail under load and recoil. Tow balls and hooks can become projectiles, and vehicles can be damaged. Small trees sometimes can be reset with proper staking, but large evergreens that have heaved their root plates generally cannot be saved and can be dangerous to handle.
Follow-Up: Recheck And Monitor
Some problems show up over time. Hangers can reveal themselves days or weeks later as needles or leaves brown. Recheck within a couple of days, again after the next windy day, and keep an eye on it over the next few weeks. Take another set of photos from the same spots for comparison.
Prevention For Next Time
Structural pruning can reduce wind load on the crown, especially when it addresses weak unions and heavy end-weight on long limbs. Good housekeeping around the home, including managing vegetation and removing fine, dry debris, keeps post-storm cleanup simpler and also improves wildfire resilience.
Summary
After a windstorm, a quick, careful look at your trees goes a long way. Start at the base, work your way up, and keep your distance from anything that looks suspect. Document what you see, keep people out from under damaged trees, and bring in a pro when work moves beyond simple, on-the-ground cleanup. With this systematic approach, you can protect people and your property from further damage.
