A major storm has been and gone from your part of town? You might be eyeing the trees and questioning whether that off kilter limb is trouble in the making. The question is, can you tell what to watch for before a branch that has lost its strength decides to come down on the roof or the car?

For more than ten years we at Adrian’s Tree Service have put those very questions to rest for homeowners all over Southeast Michigan. Give us a ring at (313) 631-0808 for a professional view of any storm damage you have noticed.

There are close to 100 species of tree in the Oakland, Washtenaw and Livingston counties. It is what gives our region its character, but it also means one does not see the same kind of storm damage from every tree. A few will snap, some split and others will conceal their injuries till it is too late.

We have set out below the warning signs a homeowner ought to be aware of.

The Importance of Storm Damage

You do not have to be in Michigan long to know the storms here can be unforgiving. Between the wind, ice and snow loads and the way the temperature can change in an instant, there is considerable stress put on a tree. When the weather has passed it is not always plain to see the toll it has taken.

From the kitchen window a tree may appear in good order and yet be in a sorry state. Make it a practice to inspect things after a big storm; the earlier you put your finger on a problem, the better off you will be in rectifying it.

What to Look For

Put in a slow walk around the trees on your property post storm. Examine the trunk, look up and down. These are the things to take note of:

• A crack in the trunk, particularly if it is deep or wide
• Big branches left to dangle or lodged in the canopy
• New wounds from torn bark
• An obvious lean to the tree that was not there prior to the storm
• Roots coming up out of the ground or the heaving of soil at the base
• Limbs broken but not completely let go
• Included bark where the two main stems join

One of these is enough to suggest instability. More than one and you would be wise to put in a call to a pro.

Damage You Do Not See Coming

Then there is the kind of damage that is not so forthcoming.

The connection between a branch and the trunk could be cracked while the rest of it is as green and healthy as can be. Or water in a fresh split will hasten decay in the months to come. A root system half torn by the wind will support the tree on a day with no wind and then fail when the next storm comes.

It is a matter of experience. We are familiar with how each local species, the White Pine included, is apt to fail, and we will see the sort of trouble an untrained eye would miss.

When to Call for Emergency Service

There is no point in putting off a scheduled appointment for some of this. If you are faced with any of the following, you want to call for emergency service:

• Power lines, a garage or home with a tree or large limb on top of it
• A fallen tree blocking a walkway or driveway
• Anything hanging over where pets or people are
• A trunk in the process of shifting or splitting
• A tree leaning into a structure

Should a storm create a hazardous situation in the middle of the night, we are on hand. Adrian’s Tree Service is available 24/7.

Next Steps

Once you have identified a warning sign, the prudent thing is to stand back and have a professional make an assessment. Do not put yourself to the task of taking down a leaning tree or a large limb; wood that has been through a storm is under tension and has a mind of its own.

We are a locally owned company and we know the weather and the trees in Ann Arbor, Novi, Wixom, West Bloomfield, Troy, Fenton, Hartland, Ypsilanti, Farmington, Sterling Heights, Detroit and the communities around them.

Do not leave it to another storm to show you the extent of the damage. Contact Adrian’s Tree Service at (313) 631-0808 for a free estimate and our team will put your mind at ease.