Redmond Summit Tree Service cleans up storm-damaged trees across Redmond after the windstorms that hit the Eastside every fall and winter: broken limbs hanging in the canopy, split trunks, snapped cedar tops, trees on fences, and yards buried in branches. If a tree is on your house or blocking access, that’s an emergency removal. Everything else is storm cleanup, and doing it right matters because damaged trees keep failing for days after the wind stops.
Storm Damage We Clean Up
- Hanging and broken limbs caught in the canopy, which can drop without warning.
- Split trunks and co-dominant stems torn apart at weak forks, common in bigleaf maples.
- Snapped tops on cedars and hemlocks.
- Uprooted trees leaning on other trees, fences or sheds.
- Branches on roofs and gutters, removed without dragging them across the shingles.
- Debris cleanup: chipping and hauling everything from small branches to full trunks.
Why Redmond Trees Fail in Storms
Most damage here comes from strong south and southwest winds hitting trees after weeks of rain. Saturated soil weakens the grip of shallow conifer roots, which is why whole trees tip over rather than just losing branches. Other common causes:
| Cause | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Saturated soil + wind | Whole tree uprooted, root plate lifted |
| Edge exposure | Firs left standing alone after nearby lots were cleared, suddenly taking full wind |
| Decay | Clean snap at a rotten section; mushrooms or conks on the trunk |
| Weak forks | Multi-trunk maples splitting down the middle |
| Ice and wet snow | Branches broken by weight, especially on evergreens in lowland snow events |
Storm Cleanup Step by Step
- Assess. Check for hanging limbs, cracks, root-plate movement and wires before anyone goes under the tree.
- Make safe. Hanging limbs and dangerous sections come down first, under control.
- Decide repair vs. removal. Some damaged trees can be saved with corrective pruning or cabling. Others are now hazards and should come down.
- Clean up. Debris chipped and hauled, rounds stacked if you want firewood, lawn raked.
- Paperwork. Photos and an itemised invoice for your insurance claim.
Is My Damaged Tree a Hazard Now?
Signs a storm-damaged tree should be removed rather than pruned:
- More than about a third of the crown is gone.
- The main trunk is cracked or split.
- The tree has a new lean and the soil is heaved on one side.
- The break exposed hollow or rotten wood.
In Redmond, a tree that a certified arborist finds hazardous can be removed through a Hazard Tree Declaration, which carries no city fee. A tree posing an imminent threat can come down immediately, with the permit issued afterwards. See hazardous tree removal.
Preparing for Next Storm Season
The best time to deal with risky trees is late summer, before the October–March windstorm season. A pre-season check looks for dead wood, weak forks, decay and trees newly exposed to wind, and fixes them with pruning or removal before a storm decides for you. Use our pre-storm tree checklist to check your own yard in 30 minutes.
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Questions We Hear
Should I clean up storm debris myself?
Small branches on the ground, yes. But don't climb ladders into damaged trees, don't cut limbs that are bent under tension (spring poles), and stay at least 35 feet from any downed wire. Most storm injuries happen during cleanup, not during the storm.
A big limb broke off but the tree is still standing. Is it safe?
Not necessarily. A large torn limb leaves a wound that can split further, and the break may show decay inside the trunk. Hanging limbs ('widowmakers') can drop days later. Have the tree looked at before anyone works or plays under it.
Who pays when my neighbour's tree falls into my yard?
In Washington it's usually your own homeowners insurance for damage to your property, if the tree was healthy and fell because of the storm. If the neighbour knew or should have known the tree was dead or dangerous, they may be liable. Photos of the break point help sort this out.