How a Tree Surgeon in Windlesham Can Prevent Storm Damage?
Drive around Windlesham on a calm afternoon and you’ll see why people love it. Big old oaks, pines and the odd beech leaning over a driveway. Some of these trees are older than the houses next to them. It’s lovely, right up until the wind picks up. A branch that looked completely harmless in July can end up through a conservatory roof by November and most people only realise something was wrong once it’s already happened. That’s really the whole job of a decent tree surgeon in Windlesham, spotting the problem before the storm does.
Here’s a rundown of why this happens, what we actually look for on a proper inspection and what’s worth doing this year before the weather turns on you.
Why Storm Damage Is a Growing Concern in Windlesham Gardens
UK storms don’t really follow a pattern anymore, if they ever did. Some years you barely hear about a storm on the news. Other years it feels like every other week there’s a new one being named. The 2022/23 season had two named storms. The next one, 2023/24, had twelve. That’s the kind of swing that catches people out, because a garden that got through last winter fine can be a completely different story the next time round. If you want to see what’s actually forecast, the Met Office UK Storm Centre keeps live warnings and season by season storm data.
A handful of things make gardens around here more exposed than most:
- Many properties sit on older plots with tall, established trees planted decades ago
- Sandy and clay soil pockets across this part of Surrey can affect root stability
- Dense tree cover means one falling limb can easily hit a neighbouring garden, fence or roof
- Wind funnels differently around open commons and wooded lanes typical of the area
How Trees Actually Fail During High Winds
Trees hardly ever just fail out of the blue. There’s nearly always something that’s been getting worse quietly, sometimes for years, before a storm finally finds it. The usual suspects:
- Deadwood sitting up in the canopy that eventually gives way under load
- A root plate that’s been weakened by waterlogged ground, digging nearby or disease taking hold
- Two stems growing too close at the trunk, what arborists call included bark, which can split apart when it’s put under pressure
- An uneven crown that catches far more wind than the roots underneath were ever built to handle
- Old pruning wounds or hollows that have been quietly rotting away out of sight
The annoying part is a tree can look completely fine standing at the end of your garden while two or three of these are already happening underneath the bark or under the ground where nobody’s looking.
What a Qualified Tree Surgeon in Windlesham Actually Checks
A proper storm season inspection isn’t a two minute wander round the garden with a cup of tea in hand. Someone who knows the job will be checking:
- How dense the crown is and what that means for wind resistance
- Fungus near the base of the trunk, which is often the first visible sign of root decay
- Cracks or hollows where the main branches meet the trunk
- Whether the tree has started leaning or whether the soil around the roots has shifted lately
- How close it all sits to the house, the drive, a shed or power lines running overhead
Worth a quick mention here too. If there’s a Tree Preservation Order on the tree, which isn’t rare at all in parts of Surrey near conservation areas, you’ll need the council to sign off before any felling or serious reduction happens. Someone who’s done this before will check for that first, because cutting a protected tree without permission can leave you with a fairly nasty fine.
Proactive Steps That Reduce Storm Risk
Prevention is almost always cheaper and safer than dealing with the aftermath of a fallen tree. The most effective preventative work includes:
- Crown thinning, which selectively removes some branches so wind passes through the canopy rather than pushing against it
- Deadwooding, removing dead or dying limbs before they become falling hazards
- Crown reduction, lowering the overall height and spread of a tree without ruining its natural shape
- Cabling and bracing, adding support to weak stem unions on trees worth preserving
- Stump and root assessment, since a decaying old stump nearby can sometimes indicate root disease spreading toward a standing tree
If an old stump is sitting in the garden from a previous felling job, it is worth having it properly ground out rather than left in place. Rotting wood can attract pests and fungi that eventually spread to healthy trees nearby. Our guide on what to do after tree stump removal covers levelling the ground and getting it ready for grass or replanting once the work is done.
Hedge lines matter too. An overgrown or top heavy hedge can act like a sail in strong wind. It can put pressure on fence panels and boundary walls. Routine hedge cutting and management keep growth balanced and reduce that risk considerably.
What To Do If a Tree Is Damaged During a Storm
Even with the best preparation severe weather can still cause damage. If this happens:
- Keep everyone, including pets, away from the affected area until it has been assessed
- Do not attempt to cut or move large fallen limbs yourself, especially if they are under tension
- Photograph the damage for insurance purposes before anything is cleared
- Call a fully insured tree surgeon for an emergency assessment and safe removal
Our tree felling team regularly deals with storm damaged trees that need careful, controlled removal to avoid further harm to property, fencing or neighbouring gardens.
Why Local Knowledge Matters
Trees don’t behave the same everywhere you go. Soil, drainage, even the way a garden catches the wind, play a part and a tree surgeon who already knows Windlesham will notice things someone new to the area might completely miss.
At TW Tree Services, our team is led by Tom Weymouth, who’s spent years working across this bit of Surrey and into neighbouring Berkshire, covering Bagshot, Camberley, Ascot, Sunningdale, Chobham and Virginia Water among other spots.
We’re fully insured and NPTC trained and alongside residential gardens we also take on commercial tree surgeon work for estates, schools and managed grounds, where getting storm prep right matters just as much as it does for one tree in someone’s back garden. There’s more on how we work over on our about us page.
Get Your Trees Storm Ready Before the Weather Turns
Once there’s a storm warning on the news, it’s really too late to book in proper crown work. The right time to get your trees looked at is well before autumn sets in, while there’s still time to sort out any reduction, deadwooding or removal without the pressure of a warning hanging over you.
If you’d like a free assessment of your trees, stumps or hedges before the next storm season hits, get in touch with our professionals at TW Tree Services. We’re fully insured, NPTC trained and happy to come and take a look.
FAQs
How do I know if a tree in my garden is at risk of storm damage?
Watch for a build up of deadwood, a lean that wasn’t there before, cracks near the base, fungus on the trunk or roots or soil that looks like it’s lifted slightly near the base. Any of that showing up is a good reason to get someone out to look rather than just hoping it holds through winter.
Is it better to remove a risky tree completely or just cut it back?
Honestly, it depends on the tree. If it’s structurally sound but just carrying too much weight up top, thinning or reducing the crown usually sorts it. If the roots or trunk are seriously decayed, taking the whole thing down might be the safer option. An arborist can tell you which camp you’re in after a proper look, not just a guess from the pavement.
Do I need permission to do preventative work on a tree?
The tree may be protected by a Tree Preservation Order or it could be in a conservation area. In such cases, you’ll need council permission for any work beyond urgent safety issues. A local tree surgeon will check this before starting any cutting.
What does preventative tree work usually cost?
Depends on the size of the tree, how easy it is to reach and what’s actually needed, whether that’s a bit of deadwooding or a full crown reduction. Smaller, easier jobs cost less. Bigger trees or awkward access push the price up. Get a written quote before anything starts so there’s nothing sprung on you later.
What should I do straight after a storm damages a tree?
Keep people and pets well clear. Don’t try moving large branches yourself. Take a few photos for the insurance claim and call a fully insured tree surgeon for an emergency assessment. Climbing on or cutting a damaged tree without proper training just isn’t worth the risk, however tempting it is to sort it yourself.