We certainly saw an elevated number of severe thunder and wind storm watches this past summer of 2025 in Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley. While only a few actually materialized, most Kelowna residents have long memories of what a thunder or wind or hail storm can do to a tree and its environment: broken branches, uprooted trees, power outages, crushed cars and houses and these are just a few of the immediate, obvious effects. Damage suffered during a summer storm can also render a tree more vulnerable to other assaults, such as wildfires, disease or pests.
In this article we delve into the types of summer storm damage a tree can suffer, and how the tree can be helped to heal if it isn’t too badly damaged.
How Summer Storms Can Damage Trees
A summer storm can include a mix of wind, heavy rain, lightning or hail. Any of these elements, on their own or in combination, can damage a tree.
Common issues after a summer storm are:
Broken branches, limbs and foliage damage: Wind, hail and even heavy rain can snap branches leaving them hanging precariously. This sort of damage is more frequent in trees with a dense crown, but can happen to any tree. Not only does this pose a safety risk to people and property, it can also negatively impact the structure, and thus the health of the tree. As well, strong wind and hail can strip or shred the leaves and needles from a tree, decreasing its ability to photosynthesize and receive the nutrients and energy it needs for health.
Leaning or uprooted trees: The Okanagan often experiences periods of drought in the summer, which can make trees more vulnerable to wind damage, especially when combined with the heavy rains of a summer storm. In a drought, the roots of a tree can start to die off, weakening the tree. The heavy rains of a summer storm can then quickly saturate the soil, reducing the soil’s ability to anchor the tree’s roots. Under these conditions, a strong wind can more easily topple a tree, especially one with a shallow root system.
Damage to a tree’s structure:
Trees with a particularly dense tree canopy are vulnerable to structural damage in a strong wind — especially if the canopy is very heavy due to rain, Wind will not easily flow through a dense tree canopy and a strong wind can move this dense tree canopy in a way which can, in turn, move the root plates of the tree, causing a twisting or bending that can leave cracks and splits in the tree’s trunk. If it is bad enough, this can make the tree unstable and more prone to falling over. Cracks or splitting can also provide entry points for disease or insects.
If lightning directly strikes a tree, the extreme heat can boil the water within the tree’s cells, causing an explosion that can spit the tree’s trunk, leave burned grooves in the bark or completely shatter the bark. Even if there does not seem to be much external damage, the tree could have suffered internal burning and damage and must be checked out by an arborist.
Tree Pruning, Trimming, Cabling & Bracing are the Ideal Fixes for Storm Damaged Trees
If your trees have been damaged in a summer storm, the first step is to call a certified arborist to evaluate the extent of the damage and determine the best course of action for restoration. The arborist will also assess the hazards, such as hanging branches, fallen trees, proximity to buildings or power lines, and will organize for professionals to safely remove the threats.
In many cases, expert tree pruning, trimming, cabling or bracing, and possibly some bark and tree wound repair, are all that are needed to help a tree back to health and to stabilize it. However, unfortunately, sometimes the best course of action is tree removal.
Tree Trimming and Pruning
If the storm damage is mostly limited to the tree’s crown, and is less than 50% of the crown, there is a good chance, under the guidance of an ISA certified arborist, that the tree can be saved. At Action Tree we remove the heavily damaged and dangerous branches and limbs and then prune or trim to work on branching patterns for healthy regrowth and stronger resilience to future storms.
How pruning and trimming helps a tree back to health after storm damage:
- Removes the danger of further damage from falling branches
- Reduces wind resistance, greatly reducing branch breakage, as well as twisting and bending of the structure in a strong wind
- Prevents disease and decay, by removing the damaged areas and thus the entry points for disease or insects
- Balances and improves the tree’s structure so the tree is more resilient in future storms
- Promotes growth by getting rid of damaged parts that can sap a tree’s energy
Tree Cabling & bracing
If the damage to the tree involves structural weakness within the canopy or trunk, the arborist might suggest support through cabling and bracing. These methods will distribute the weight to prevent further damage.
Cabling involves strategically installing steel cables in the tree’s canopy to support weaker branches so they don’t snap or split under their weight or in a wind. Bracing involves inserting metal rods into the trunk or branches or using other hardware to reinforce areas where there are cracks or splits to prevent further damage and allow for healing.
Cabling and bracing are powerful measures, and they must be done by an expert and inspected regularly. If cables or braces are improperly placed they can strangle (girdle) a tree or cause other structural problems.
How Cabling and bracing can help a tree back to health after storm damage:
- Increases resilience to winds and storms, minimizing the potential for further damage
- Increases the chance for limbs to heal since they will be less likely to be stressed or to break
- Increases the lifespan of a weakened tree
- Avoids tree removal in some cases
Are Your Trees Suffering From Summer Storm Damage?
The good news is that in many cases, a tree can be nursed back to health after summer storm damage. A plan of action could involve tree pruning, trimming, cabling, bracing or other tree care measures depending on the arborist’s diagnosis. In some cases a dangerous tree will need to be removed.
Summer storm cleanup can be risky. Often branches or whole trees have or are about to fall on live wires, buildings or other trees. Action Tree is highly experienced with these sorts of circumstances, and has all the necessary equipment to handle even the most hazardous situation involving a tree.
Nursing a storm damaged tree back to health takes a great deal of knowledge and expertise. If the problem is not diagnosed correctly or the solutions are not applied properly, the tree might not make a full recovery.
If your trees were damaged in a summer storm, give us a call. We can restore them to their vibrant health and beauty.
