The Cleanup After the Storm

As a community nestled among the trees and surrounded by nature, property owners often find themselves with large, broken tree limbs, damaged trees, and other debris surrounding their Innsbrook property as a result from year-round Missouri storms. Snow, ice, tornados, hail and high-velocity winds are just a few of Mother Nature’s threats that can leave a bewildering cleanup and recovery around your home.

When removing damaged trees from your property after a storm, always remember safety first. Carefully assess the position of the fallen limbs and be sure to never remove branches or debris that have electrical lines running through them. If there is no danger from electrical lines, the first step is to remove trees or limbs that have fallen on your home, blocking access, or cause a threat to potentially falling on you, your family, or your home. Remember to never take on more than your skill level allows, especially on work off the ground and work requiring a chainsaw.

If a damaged tree doesn’t present an immediate hazard, step back and assess the situation for the best way to care, or save the tree. Usually damage is minor and loose or loosely attached branches can be removed to restore a more pleasing shape and to avoid further damage, but be careful not to over prune storm-damaged trees. If a tree has suffered more severe damage such as large broken limbs or splitting, only save the tree if more than 50 percent of the crown remains intact and if the tree will be attractive and of value once repaired. Mature, healthy trees can recover over time even when major limbs are damaged, so be sure to give the tree time to heal before cutting it down.

A split tree trunk is a sign that the tree has been severely weakened and should be removed. If a tipped, or leaning tree does survive, it still poses a risk of falling at a later date and should be removed. If the tipped tree is very young, it may survive if it is gently pulled back to its vertical position.

To reduce tree damage in future storms, think ahead when planting. Avoid trees that are prone to breakage, regularly prune dead or weakened limbs, remove rubbing branches, suckers, and watersprouts, and occasionally thin excess branches from the tree’s crown, especially when the tree is young. Pay close attention to the growing branches when a tree is young to avoid narrow branch angles by removing one of the two branches that begin to grow against each other. This allows space on the branch to add wood needed for strength.

If you are unsure about the condition of your trees after a storm or have severe damage on large trees that require heavy work, please contact your local professional arborist.

For further details and tips, click here to read the guide from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC).

For assistance with removal of fallen limbs, Innsbrook’s Services team and Property Management team can help. If you have trees or large limbs blocking your entry/exit to your property, please call security to report the downed trees/limbs. They will dispatch someone to help clear so you can safely exit or enter your property. If you have limbs on your property that are down (but not blocking entry/exit or a roadway) that you cannot clear yourself, please contact Innsbrook Services at ext. 9150. They can get an estimate to clear your property of trees or limbs. If there is damage to your property from trees or limbs, take photos of the damage and the trees/limbs before removing them, as that will aid in any insurance claims filed.