Storm Season Is Coming: Prepare Your Trees for Western Maryland Weather

As storm season approaches in Western Maryland, many homeowners are getting their properties ready. And we hope you are, too! While cleaning gutters and securing outdoor items are important, one crucial aspect often gets overlooked: your trees. 

Strong winds, heavy rain, and wet soil can turn beautiful trees into dangerous hazards. Falling branches and uprooted trees can cause expensive damage to your home or even put your loved ones at risk. 

The good news is that with professional tree care, you can reduce these risks and keep your property safe all year long. At Baker Tree Services, we’re here to help you protect your property and family by making sure your trees are storm-ready. Read on to learn more about what steps you should take to properly prepare your landscape.

1. Recognize the Warning Signs

Sometimes, even healthy-looking trees can have hidden problems. Over time, things like drought, poor trimming, packed soil, or past storm damage can weaken a tree’s structure. This makes it more likely to fail during bad weather.

So look out for these warning signs:

• Dead or hanging limbs
• Mushrooms growing at the bottom of the trunk
• Trees that tilt more than usual
• Soil lifting around the base or exposed roots
• Thin leaf coverage or dead sections
• Cracks in the trunk or large branches

If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to call in the experts: your local arborists. Certified arborists can do a thorough check to assess the risk and suggest the best course of action before a storm hits.

2. Prune Your Trees

Preventive pruning can make a big difference in how well your trees handle storms. Trees that resist storms have strong branch structures and good clearance from buildings, cars, and power lines. 

Compared to at-home tree care, professional pruning helps achieve this by:

• Removing dead, weak, or crossing branches
• Thinning out thick canopies to reduce wind resistance
• Lifting low-hanging branches away from walkways or roofs
• Fixing structural problems early in a tree’s life

When done correctly, pruning improves air flow and promotes healthy growth, while lowering the chance of branches breaking during storms.

3. Strengthen Mature Trees

Large, established trees provide cooling shade, enhance your landscape’s beauty, and boost property values. However, their impressive size also means they can pose significant risks during storms. To protect your mature trees, we recommend professional cabling and bracing, regular structural pruning, root zone management, and soil improvement.

Expert arborists use state-of-the-art cabling and bracing systems that work with your tree’s natural movement. These methods can:

• Strengthen weak branch unions
• Reduce stress on heavy limbs
• Extend the lifespan of structurally compromised trees
• Provide extra security during high winds

4. Nurture Healthy Roots

The key to a storm-resistant tree often lies beneath the surface. Healthy, robust roots are crucial for keeping your trees upright during severe weather. Many people don’t realize that trees often fall not because of trunk failure, but due to root instability in soft or loose soil.

To promote strong root systems, we recommend soil aeration, proper mulching, drainage, and protection of critical root zones.

An arborist, like us at Baker Tree Services, can assess your soil conditions and implement strategies to enhance root health. By focusing on what’s below ground, we help make sure your trees stay firmly planted, even in the face of Western Maryland‘s toughest storms.

5. Get a Professional Inspection

A proactive approach can save you from costly damage, emergency tree removals, and unnecessary risks to your property. A comprehensive tree risk assessment includes:

• Thorough evaluation of all trees on your property
• Identification of potential hazards and weak points
• Customized recommendations for trimming, removal, or support systems
• Prioritization of urgent vs. long-term tree care needs

Whether you have a single tree or an entire woodland, our certified arborists will provide a clear, actionable plan tailored to your Western Maryland property. 

Stay Ahead of the Storm With a Professional Tree Assessment

Storm season in Western Maryland doesn’t have to be a time of worry and uncertainty. With Baker Tree Services‘ professional expertise and timely tree care, you can face severe weather with confidence.

Our team brings over 20 years of experience serving the Western Maryland community. We’re committed to preserving the health and beauty of Western Maryland‘s trees for the safety of your property.

Reach out to the Baker Tree Services team today to schedule your tree safety inspection! Our skilled arborists will assess your property, identify any storm-related risks, and help you take smart, proactive steps to protect your trees and home this season.