Taking Care Of Trees Can Prevent Damage During OK Severe Weather

Severe storms this week caused a lot of tree damage, but there are things you can do to prevent it and keep your property safe.

Oklahoma knows severe weather, and Bill Preaus knows trees. He's an arborist with a degree in horticulture and has been in business with his brother for 38 years. When severe weather season hits, he knows what to do.

"Well, it would be better to do the maintenance before the storm to be honest with you because a lot of the post-storm damage could have been avoided, you know, with proper pruning," he said.

Preaus said, if you pay attention, you could prevent something like a tree ending up in your house from happening to you.

The Creek Nation Council oak tree is arguably one of the most pampered trees in all of Tulsa. You don’t have to treat your trees as well as it, but there are some things you can do to keep them in good condition.

"Some trees are just accidents waiting to happen. You know, there's a lot of indicators and red flags," Preaus said.

He said trained arborists can find those red flags pretty easily.

"Determine whether it’s got loss of structural integrity or root rot, co-dominant stems that are prone to splitting, large deadwood - so the first step is proper maintenance," Preaus said.

He said if you have questions or concerns about your trees you should contact someone before it's too late, or risk an even more expensive clean up later.

It could also prevent a headache with your neighbors should your tree fall on their property.

Preaus said severe weather in Oklahoma can be unpredictable; but when it comes to the trees surrounding your home, they don't have to be.

For more information on a reliable tree care company, you can visit the Better Business Bureau, the Tree Care Industry Association or the International Society of Arboriculture.