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Storm Damage Leaving Broken Limbs in the Tree
in Springfield, MA
Springfield averages about 50 inches of snow a year, and ice storms hit the area multiple times most winters. That weight breaks limbs, but the broken pieces often hang up in the branches above. Homeowners in neighborhoods like Hungry Hill sometimes do not realize the damage is still up there until something falls on a car two months later.
Quick Answer
After a Springfield nor'easter or ice storm, broken limbs often get caught in the canopy instead of falling all the way to the ground. These are called widow-makers and they can drop without warning weeks or months after the storm. A trimmer removes them safely from the ground or with a lift before they fall on a person, car, or roof. Do not walk under the tree until it is cleared.
Telltale Signs
Warning Signs to Watch For
- Splintered wood visible high in the canopy after a storm
- Large limb hanging at an odd angle but not fully on the ground
- Fresh wood exposed on a branch with bark stripped away
- Debris on the roof or yard but no limb visible below the tree
- Creaking sound from the canopy during wind after a storm
- A neighbor or passerby points out something hanging up in your tree
Root Causes
What Causes Storm Damage Leaving Broken Limbs in the Tree?
Ice Storm Weight Causing Mid-Branch Failures
Springfield ice storms can coat every branch with a half inch or more of ice. That weight causes branches to fail at weak points or old pruning cuts. The broken section drops a few feet and then catches on the branches below it.
The Fix
Storm Debris Removal and Canopy Inspection
We clear the hanging pieces safely and inspect the canopy for additional damage that is not visible from the ground. Often there are secondary breaks that need to come out at the same time.
High Wind Snapping Branches at the Crotch
Trees with tight V-shaped crotches are more likely to split during high winds. Springfield gets gusts over 50 miles per hour several times a year, and those gusts cause splits that leave large sections hanging rather than falling clean.
The Fix
Broken Crotch Removal and Structural Pruning
We remove the hanging section and shape the remaining structure to reduce the chance of the same thing happening again. Sometimes cabling can stabilize a weak crotch if the tree is otherwise healthy.
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 | Ice Storm Weight Causing Mid-Branch Failures | High Wind Snapping Branches at the Crotch |
|---|---|---|
| Damage happened during or right after an ice storm | ||
| Damage happened during a summer thunderstorm with high winds | ||
| Branch is still attached at one end and hanging at an angle | ||
| Tree has a visible V-shaped crotch that split apart | ||
| Multiple smaller breaks scattered through the canopy after one storm |
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.
(413) 288-4374Free on-site inspection
Written estimate before work starts
Serving Springfield & surrounding areas
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