Strong thunderstorms, tornadoes, heavy rainfall, ice storms, and occasional hurricanes impact Athens and the North Georgia area throughout the year, making preparing your yard crucial to keeping you and your family safe. Our tree service experts at Cowart Tree Service LLC have put together a few tips to prepare for severe weather. Read below to learn more about how our arborists help homeowners protect their properties before the storm arrives.

Examine Trees for Structural Weakness

Among ways to prepare, an important step is examining trees for any existing structural weakness.

Look for the following signs around your yard:

Cracked or damaged tree trunks
Exposed roots or soil lifting near the base of the tree
Dead and overhanging branches
Trees leaning either suddenly or to an excessive degree
Missing bark or discoloration on the bark can indicate pests or disease
Fungal growth near the base of the tree or the base being abnormally hollow

If you recognize any of these warning signs, scheduling an appointment for a tree service can allow our arborists to have a detailed inspection of your property and recommend the proper next steps.

Prune Overgrown or Hazardous Branches

Pruning involves selectively removing dead, damaged, or overgrown branches to improve a tree’s structure and overall health. When tree limbs are overgrown or cracked, they pose a serious risk to your home, especially under the added pressure of heavy rain, wind, or snow. Damaged branches are more likely to break under stress, potentially damaging roofs, vehicles, fences, and nearby structures.

How we take care of these tree limbs:

Locate the branches that extend over vehicles, driveways, or your roof, as these areas are most vulnerable to storm damage.
Proactively call tree pruning arborists to remove unstable branches before the storm happens.
Schedule routine prunings to keep trees and foliage properly maintained and less susceptible to storm-related breakage.

Properly addressing hazardous limbs requires more than simply cutting branches off at random. Our strategic approach ensures that trees remain structurally sound while reducing safety risks around your home. By identifying stress points and removing excess weight from vulnerable areas, professional pruning helps trees better withstand severe weather conditions. Taking preventive action before the storm season promotes stronger, healthier trees that are less likely to break in harsh weather.

Improper tree pruning can harm the tree’s integrity by creating uneven weight distribution, exposing the tree to disease, or causing weak regrowth that is likely to fail during storms. Poor cutting techniques can also leave large wounds that attract pests and decay, increasing long-term hazards. We advise contacting our professional tree removal company to prune branches. In addition to improving safety, proper pruning every 2-5 years encourages healthy new growth and improves the overall balance of trees.

Trim Trees and Get Rid of Weak Tree Limbs

In Athens, summer storms are known for causing severe damage to trees and property. Falling trees and limbs are a common cause of roof damage, blocked driveways, and downed power lines, creating serious safety hazards for homeowners and surrounding properties.

Protecting nearby properties is just as important as protecting your own home when preparing for severe weather. Overgrown or weakened trees can easily extend beyond property lines, increasing the risk of falling limbs damaging neighboring homes. Proactive tree trimming helps reduce liability risks while keeping surrounding properties safe. Scheduling routine inspections helps identify hazardous branches early, keeping homeowners prepared for unpredictable weather in the Athens area.

To prepare your property and reduce these risks, we recommend:

Removing dead and rotted trees, or severely damaged trees and broken limbs, as weakened wood is more likely to snap or fall during strong winds and heavy rain.
Trimming weak or cracked branches near your home, porch, or driveway helps prevent limbs from breaking off and damaging structures, vehicles, or walkways during storms.
Removing trees that are unstable or show signs of structural damage, such as leaning trunks or exposed roots. These trees are at a much higher risk of uprooting or collapsing in severe weather conditions.

Strengthen Young or Vulnerable Trees

Young trees and those with shallow root systems are especially vulnerable during severe weather conditions. Their branches are often less developed and more prone to breaking in strong winds, while shallow or newly established roots can become exposed or uprooted during heavy rain and saturated soil. Without proper support, these trees may suffer permanent damage or fail entirely during a storm.

These preventative measures can help improve tree stability to keep these trees and your yard safe:

Stake young trees properly to provide proper stability and support during high winds and heavy storms. Use professional-grade, flexible ties to allow for regular movement without damaging the trunk base or causing rubbing, helping the tree develop strength over time.
Apply mulch correctly to protect exposed roots, retain soil moisture, and regulate temperature to support healthy root development and tree stability.

Partnering with Athens arborists can help you manage these trees by giving them the necessary support to develop stronger foundations, improving their resilience, and mitigating potential storm damage.

Protect Your Yard Before the Next Storm

Severe weather can strike Athens, GA, quickly, but proactive tree preparation can make a significant impact. Schedule a professional storm-prep assessment and inspection from Cowart Tree Service LLC today. Our experience in professional tree care services will help you protect your yard with confidence.