Its windstorm season in southern california -- cleaning up after

Strong winter winds winds can put a lot of pressure on all trees, but of most concern are those growing close to a house or power line. This is the time of year when winter storms and high wind events occur in Ventura County, California.  After the storm has passed (or during the storm for that matter) you may see damage to your landscape in the form of broken tree trunks and tree branches on the ground.  
Storm cleanup time is when many untrained property owners (guys in particular) start up their chainsaws -- sometimes for the first time.  To our dismay, this leads to messy results -- for both the landscaping and potentially for the property owner who can receive serious injuries or even death.  

If you insist on handling things yourself, consider these points before you embark on your own private “Chainsaw Massacre: “

Most Importantly -- Downed Powerlines:

• Do not approach the powerline AT ALL. Always assume that the downed powerline is live with electricity.
• Call your local electrical utility company right away - they handle these situations all the time.
• Even go out of your way to avoid touching anything near the downed line  -- branches, puddles, wet pavement, etc. can all result in possible electrocution. 
• Remember that fallen powerlines can even be hidden amongst foliage.  Son’t mess around.

Removing Downed Trees and Branches:

• Be mindful of the the tree or branch size and/or location.  As a rule of thumb, if the removal work requires that you don’t have your feet on the ground, or if the subject 20’ feet tall or taller, you really need to be calling a tree care professional. In particular, don’t use a chainsaw on a ladder!
• Consider the size, shape, and direction the tree is leaning. You should check the tree trunk for decay, weak spots or hanging limbs. If you find any of these conditions know that the tree may be unstable.
• Be careful about other people being near the tree -- especially kids.  Make sure they can’t wander into the danger zone.
• Trees that are under tension  and possibly bent can be extremely dangerous. As a rule, don’t cut a tree under tension -- it may snap or whip out in an unexpected direction with unexpected force. 
• Consider how you will escape from a falling tree branch of if need be.
• We don’t recommend that you personally use a chainsaw without training or long experience. Even as tree professionals, we risk injury using chainsaws. Very often the results of cutting a tree or tree branch can be unpredictable. You really don’t want to roll the dice.
• If you have any doubt at all that you can do this yourself, contact a local professional in tree care professional the situation.

Consider Hiring a Tree Care Professional:

• Professionals have the experience, expertise, and equipment to safely remove  a downed tree or prune a damaged limb.
• A professional tree care expert should have liability insurance, in case something does go wrong.

We are happy to help with tree removal, trimming, stump removal and advice from a certified arborist under emergency situations or more calm circumstances.

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