Residential Advice
Signs a tree needs attention before storm season
Deadwood, included bark, fungal brackets, lean changes and root plate movement — what to look for on Auckland and Waikato trees before the next big blow.
Look up: crown and limb signs
Deadwood held high in the crown, hanging limbs, and large branches with tight V-shaped unions and included bark are the failures we see most often after a storm. Over-extended limbs on species like liquidambar, eucalyptus and poplar are worth assessing before wind loads them.
Sudden leaf loss out of season, or one section of the crown thinning while the rest is dense, can indicate a structural or vascular problem worth a closer look.
Look down: stem and root plate
Fungal brackets at the base, weeping cavities, cracked or lifting soil on one side of the trunk, and exposed or severed roots from recent trenching all reduce a tree's ability to hold in wind. Any movement of the soil around the base in wind is a serious warning sign.
Changes in lean are the ones people miss because they happen slowly. Photographs taken a year apart from the same spot are surprisingly useful.
What to do next
Most storm-risk trees don't need removal. Targeted deadwooding, crown reduction on over-extended limbs, or thinning to reduce sail area often resolves the risk while keeping the tree. Where the tree is protected, an arborist report may be required before any work.
If a tree is already moving, leaning over a building, or has failed partially, keep people clear and call an arborist immediately rather than attempting anything yourself.
NZ TreeSMITHS is a Tōtika qualified, $10 million insured arborist company based in Paerata, Franklin. See our commercial capability or request a quote.