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Storm Damage Cleanup
in Springfield, OH
Clark County sees some of the heaviest storm damage in western Ohio because most of the region's big trees are 50 to 80 years old and have never been properly thinned. A storm in June or July with winds over 60 miles per hour can split a silver maple that looked fine the day before. Leaving split wood attached to the tree creates a hazard that gets worse with each rain and wind event that follows.
Quick Answer
Springfield gets severe thunderstorms from late spring through September that can split large trees and drop limbs across roofs, fences, and cars. After a storm, any limb on a structure or touching a power line needs to be dealt with before the next rain makes it worse. A trimmer can assess what can be saved and what has to come down. Call (937) 504-6787 after a storm to get on the schedule.
Telltale Signs
Warning Signs to Watch For
- A large limb cracked but still attached, hanging at a downward angle
- Bark stripped in a long vertical line down the trunk after lightning
- Half of the tree crown split away and resting on a roof or fence
- The trunk split into two or more leaders, one of which pulled away
- Small branches scattered across the yard after a storm but no obvious big damage yet found
Root Causes
What Causes Storm Damage Cleanup?
Included Bark at Branch Unions
Included bark happens when two large branches grow so close together that bark grows inward between them instead of forming a solid joint. This is common in the silver maples and Bradford pears planted throughout Springfield. When a storm hits, that joint splits cleanly and completely.
The Fix
Cabling or Removal of Compromised Union
A steel cable installed above the weak union takes load off the joint during high winds. If the split is already started or the bark inclusion is deep, removal of the weaker stem is the safer call.
Lightning Strike
Springfield is in a part of Ohio that averages more than 40 thunderstorm days per year. A direct lightning strike superheats the water inside the tree so fast the bark blows off and the wood splits or burns from the inside.
The Fix
Post-Strike Assessment and Selective Removal
A tree that took a direct strike needs to be walked around carefully because internal damage does not always show on the outside. A trimmer removes hanging and split material and tells you honestly what the rest of the tree looks like.
Overextended Crown With No Prior Thinning
A tree that has never been thinned catches wind like a sail. Many Springfield trees have not been trimmed in twenty or thirty years, and a dense full crown on a heavy old tree generates enormous leverage at the trunk during a straight-line wind event.
The Fix
Crown Thinning After Cleanup
After storm debris is cleared, a trimmer removes 15 to 25 percent of the interior canopy. Less wind resistance means the tree is less likely to split or uproot in the next storm.
Self-Diagnosis
Which Cause Applies to You?
Check the signs you're observing to narrow down the likely root cause before your inspection.
| What You're Seeing | Included Bark at Branch Unions | Lightning Strike | Overextended Crown With No Prior Thinning |
|---|---|---|---|
| A clean, flat split at a crotch where two large branches meet | |||
| Bark blown off in a vertical strip with charring or blackening | |||
| Many large branches scattered, tree canopy stripped but trunk intact | |||
| Wood exposed inside the split shows no rot or discoloration | |||
| Tree still standing but leaning noticeably after the storm | |||
| Multiple trees in the area hit, one with vertical bark strips and interior damage |
Free Inspection
Get a Diagnosis in Springfield
An on-site inspection is the only way to confirm which cause applies to your property. Free, no obligation.
(937) 504-6787Free on-site inspection
Written estimate before work starts
Serving Springfield & surrounding areas
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