Storm season on the Gold Coast can bring strong winds, heavy rain and saturated ground, all of which can place additional stress on trees.
Damaged, unstable or poorly maintained trees and branches can pose a risk to homes, vehicles, fences, powerlines and other areas of a property during severe weather. Problems that may not be obvious in normal conditions can become more serious once trees are exposed to high winds and prolonged rainfall.
Checking trees before severe weather arrives gives you an opportunity to identify potential problems and arrange appropriate pruning or other work where required.
What to Look for Before Storm Season
Some tree problems become more significant during severe weather. Before storm season, look around your property for issues that could increase the risk of branches or trees failing, including:
- Dead, broken or hanging branches that could fall during high winds
- Large branches extending over roofs, driveways or other frequently used areas
- Cracks or splits in major branches or branch unions
- Trees that have developed a new or noticeably increasing lean
- Lifting or disturbed soil around the base of a tree, particularly after heavy rain
- Previous storm damage that has not been assessed or removed
- Branches growing close to powerlines
You don’t need to diagnose the health of the tree yourself. If you notice structural changes, damaged branches or other concerns, an arborist can assess whether pruning, removal or another response is appropriate before severe weather arrives.
Severe weather can still cause damage even when trees have been prepared beforehand. After a major weather event, it is worth knowing what to do about your trees after a storm before assuming they have come through unaffected.
What Will Be Done to Prepare a Tree for Storms?
What needs to be done will depend on the condition and structure of the individual tree. An arborist may recommend removing dead or damaged branches, selectively pruning the canopy, managing branches affecting structures or access, or removing a tree where its condition presents an unacceptable risk.
The aim isn’t simply to remove as much foliage as possible. Excessive or inappropriate pruning can affect tree structure and encourage weak regrowth, so any work should be based on what the particular tree actually needs.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree?
Whether you need approval depends on the property and the vegetation involved, so check before removing any tree. See whether you need Gold Coast council approval for tree removal for what to check.
Can I DIY tree lopping or tree removal?
Small, low-level garden maintenance may be manageable for homeowners, but large branches, work at height and trees near buildings or powerlines introduce significantly greater risks.
Avoid climbing trees while using cutting equipment or attempting to remove branches that you cannot safely control once cut. Trees near powerlines require particular care and should not be trimmed by homeowners. Energex specifically advises people not to trim vegetation near powerlines themselves.
Emergency and Storm Response
If your property suffers tree damage during a storm, Treesafe provides emergency storm response for fallen and damaged trees.
If a tree or branch has fallen onto powerlines, stay well away and do not touch the tree, branches or anything in contact with the lines. Energex advises staying at least 10 metres away from fallen powerlines and treating all fallen lines as live. Report fallen powerlines immediately to Triple Zero (000) or Energex on 13 19 62.
For large fallen trees, see how to safely handle large fallen trees after storm damage.
Get Your Trees Checked Before Storm Season
If you have large trees, damaged branches or trees close to your home or other structures, having them assessed before severe weather arrives can help identify problems that may need attention.
Treesafe provides professional tree assessments, pruning and tree removal across the Gold Coast, along with emergency storm response when severe weather causes tree damage. Our AQF Level 3 qualified arborists are backed by $20 million in public liability insurance.