Tips for Inspecting Your Southeast Michigan Trees After a Fall Storm

After the way that last fall storm went, you may be left to question whether your trees are all right. You see some debris in the yard, a trunk on a slant or limbs with cracks and wonder if what is now a compromised tree will give way when the wind and rain come back around.

Then you are in good company. Adrian’s Tree Service has been tending to the trees of Southeast Michigan for more than ten years as a local concern. Put in a call to (313) 631-0808 and let us put a professional eye on things. For the rest, read on; we have put together a guide to help you do an inspection of your own.

The White Pine, our state tree, oaks, maples and some 100 other species make up the diversity of trees in Southeast Michigan. It is a fine thing but one that means a given tree will put up with the stress of a storm in its own way. To get ahead of trouble it helps to know where to look.

The Toll of a Fall Storm on Michigan Trees

Our part of the country gets its share of cold snaps, high winds and heavy rain in the fall. Growth is slowing and the leaves are coming off so the tree does not stand up to pressure as it once did. A limb was hardy enough in July but by October it can be brittle. Then there is the root system; autumn rain will saturate the soil and loosen its hold, an invitation to uprooting or leaning.

A thorough look over after a storm is called for. Yet one need not be an expert to see the signs.

Make a Circle of the Trunk

Work from the base of the tree up. Take a full circle around the trunk and give it a good once over.

At the base and trunk you want to check for:

• Splits or new cracks in the bark
• Soil pulling away or heaved on a side
• A lean in the trunk that was not there prior to the storm
• The presence of soft spongy wood, mushrooms or fungus
• Roots that are lifted or exposed due to loose ground

These are indicators of instability. Should you see a trunk leaning with the soil disturbed, consider it a sign the tree requires immediate attention.

Canopy and Limbs

Step back from the base and turn your attention to the top of the tree. The wind makes its mark on the limbs in the canopy.

Some things to watch for overhead:

• Widow-makers, those broken branches left hanging
• A crack in a limb short of being detached
• Unevenly stripped leafless areas
• Branches in contact with a fence, roof or power line
• A sizeable split at the junction of two main branches and the trunk

Do not be like some homeowners who put themselves in harm’s way trying to dislodge a hanging limb; they are apt to fall with no notice. Leave it be.

White Pines and Evergreens Deserve a Second Look

We put in a lot of time with White Pines in Michigan so we would be remiss not to mention them. An evergreen will take more of the wind in a fall storm than a hardwood without its needles. Note any loss of needles concentrated to one side, a split in the trunk or a leader at the top that is bent or snapped. If a White Pine is showing a lean post-storm, have a good look at it.

Making the Call to a Pro

You can manage some of the cleanup yourself but a trained crew is warranted in certain instances.

If the situation is any of these, get some help:

• A mature, heavy tree with a cracked trunk
• Limbs in the vicinity of power lines
• Hanging branches out of safe reach
• A tree that has taken to leaning in the direction of your home or driveway
• Damage of a nature that makes you doubt the safety of the tree

And if you should find something of concern during your inspection, do not put it off until the next storm to compound matters. Contact us at (313) 631-0808 for a no cost estimate. We are at the service of businesses and homeowners in Livingston, Washtenaw and Oakland counties.

For a dangerous aftermath of a storm you can count on us; Adrian’s Tree Service provides emergency service 24/7.