Miramar Tree Service assesses and handles trees that are leaning after a storm. A tree that suddenly leaned after a wind is one of the most urgent calls we get, because it may be on its way down. The question is whether it can be saved or whether it has to come down, and we figure that out before anyone touches it. A wrong guess here is a tree on the house.
The first thing we look at is the root plate. If a storm lifted the root plate out of the ground, with cracked soil and exposed roots on one side, the anchoring is compromised and the tree is a real fall risk. A tree that has heaved its roots is usually done, and it needs to come down before it finishes falling on its own, often toward the house. We will tell you honestly when that is the case.
A tree that is leaning but the roots are still solid is a different story. Sometimes a storm pushes the canopy over but the root system holds, and the tree can be pruned to take the weight off and cabled to support it while it recovers. If the lean is new but the roots are sound and the trunk is not cracked, saving the tree is sometimes possible. We assess the structure and give you an honest read on whether it is worth trying.
What we do not do is leave a leaning tree standing if it is a fall risk. A tree that is leaning toward a house, a driveway, or a play area, with a compromised root system, is a hazard that will come down, and the question is just when and what it lands on. If the assessment says it cannot be saved, we take it down in a controlled removal before it falls on its own. A controlled fall goes where we aim it, not where the wind sends it.
If it can be saved, we do the work to save it. That means reduction pruning to take the load off the lean, removing the weight that is pulling it over, and installing cables to support the weak side while the roots re establish. That is real work, but it is cheaper than a removal and it keeps the tree. We only recommend it when the tree is actually sound enough to recover, and we tell you if it is not.
The direction of the lean matters a lot in the decision. A tree leaning toward open lawn is one thing. A tree leaning toward a house, a bedroom, or a power line is another, and the tolerance for risk is a lot lower. We factor in what is under the fall line, because a saved tree that fails next storm is worse than a tree we took down. The target under the lean is part of the assessment.
If you have a tree that started leaning after a storm, do not wait to see if it falls. Call us or request a free quote. We come out, assess the roots and the structure, and tell you honestly whether it can be saved or has to come down, with a written estimate at no charge and with no obligation.
What is included
- Free on-site estimate with no obligation
- Full cleanup and haul away of all brush and wood
- Guidance on protected trees and permits
- Travel included across our service area