Strong winds and heavy rain are part of life in the Illawarra, and trees take the brunt of it. A few checks before the weather turns can make the difference between a windy night and a damaged roof. Use this checklist to look over the trees on your property, and know what to do if a storm does cause damage.
Before storm season: what to check
Walk around your property and look at each larger tree from a safe distance. Watch for:
- Dead or hanging branches in the canopy, especially over the house, driveway, play areas or fences
- Cracks or splits in the trunk or where large branches join it
- Leaning that is new or getting worse, or soil lifting on one side of the base
- Fungus, soft or hollow wood at the base or on the trunk, which can be a sign of decay
- Branches touching the roof or gutters, or growing towards the service line to the house
- Dense canopies that catch a lot of wind
If you spot any of these, it is worth getting a qualified arborist to look before the weather does it for you. A tree assessment tells you whether a tree is sound, and what work, if any, it needs.
Work that helps trees handle storms
- Deadwooding: removing dead branches that are likely to fall
- Canopy thinning: letting wind pass through a dense canopy
- Clearing the roof and gutters: pruning branches back from the house
- Reduction pruning: bringing down the height or spread of a tree that has outgrown its spot
Our pruning work follows Australian Standard AS 4373. Pruning cannot remove all risk, but it makes trees more resilient in high winds. If a tree is too far gone, removal may be the safer option. In Wollongong, much of this work needs council approval, so plan ahead. Our council approval guide explains when.
Around the yard
- Clear leaves from gutters and downpipes
- Tie down or put away outdoor furniture, trampolines and anything that could blow around
- Pick up fallen branches and loose debris
- Know where your power and water shut-offs are
During a storm
- Stay indoors and away from windows on the side facing large trees
- Do not park under trees if you can avoid it
- Stay well clear of fallen power lines, and treat them as live
After a storm: what to do
- Keep everyone clear. Damaged trees and hanging branches can fall without warning.
- Check for power lines. If a tree is on or near power lines, stay away and call your electricity network provider.
- Call for help if it is urgent. If a tree has fallen on your house or is threatening people or property, call our 24/7 emergency tree service on 1300 673 407. For life-threatening emergencies, call 000. The NSW SES can also help with storm damage on 132 500.
- Take photos of the damage for your insurer before anything is moved, where it is safe to do so.
- Leave chainsaw work to professionals. Storm-damaged trees are under tension and can move unpredictably when cut.
Get your trees checked before the next storm
Arborcare Tree Maintenance is based in Dapto and looks after trees across Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Illawarra. We provide free onsite quotes and a 24/7 emergency line for storm damage.
Request a free quote or call 1300 673 407.
Frequently asked questions
When should I get my trees checked for storm season?
Before the weather turns is best, so any work, and any council approval it needs, can be done in time.
Can pruning stop a tree falling in a storm?
No pruning removes all risk, but removing dead and weak branches and thinning dense canopies makes trees more resilient in strong winds.
Who do I call if a tree falls on my house?
If anyone is in danger, call 000. For the tree itself, call our 24/7 emergency line on 1300 673 407, or the NSW SES on 132 500.