Storm Season Tree Preparation Checklist for Homeowners

Most storm tree failures start with visible weaknesses. Use this pre-storm homeowner checklist to spot and handle high-risk trees before the wind arrives.

The safest time to deal with a hazardous tree is long before the wind picks up. Most storm-related tree failures are not random; they start with weaknesses that were visible weeks or months earlier. A little preparation before storm season can spare you a caved-in roof, a blocked driveway, or a middle-of-the-night emergency. Here is a practical checklist homeowners in Connecticut and beyond can work through.

Walk Your Property and Look Up

Start with a slow walk around every tree on your lot, paying attention to the crown, trunk, and base. You are looking for the warning signs that a tree may not survive high wind.

• Dead, hanging, or broken branches still lodged in the canopy

• A pronounced lean that appears new, especially with soil heaving on one side

• Cracks or deep cavities in the trunk or major limbs

• Mushrooms or fungal growth at the base, a sign of root or trunk decay

• Two trunks joined in a tight V, which can split under load

• Roots that are cut, paved over, or visibly rotting

Any one of these deserves a closer look. Several together mean the tree is a real risk.

Clear the Obvious Hazards

Some problems you can address before a storm without special equipment, as long as they are within safe reach from the ground.

• Remove deadwood and loose branches that could become projectiles

• Rake up debris and keep gutters and drains clear so water moves away from roots

• Note any limbs growing over the roof, driveway, or power lines for professional attention

Never attempt to prune large limbs near power lines or climb to reach high branches. That work belongs to trained crews.

Know Which Trees Threaten Structures

Not every tree is an equal risk. Prioritize the ones whose failure would do the most harm.

• Trees leaning toward the house, garage, or driveway

• Large trees within striking distance of bedrooms and living spaces

• Species prone to failure, such as older silver maples and storm-damaged pines

• Any dead or declining tree, which fails far more readily than a healthy one