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Summer Storm Season And Your Trees: What Southern Maryland Homeowners Should Watch For
Summer in Southern Maryland brings heavy thunderstorms and the occasional tropical system, and the trees around a home often take the brunt of high wind and saturated ground. June, before the most active weather settles in, is a practical time to walk your property in Calvert County and notice anything that could turn into a problem when the next storm rolls through.
A healthy, well structured tree stands up to wind far better than one that is already stressed or carrying a weak point. A few things tend to raise the odds of a failure during a storm:
- Large dead or broken branches still hanging in the canopy, which can drop in a strong gust
- A lean that has appeared recently, or soil lifting and cracking around the base of the trunk
- Splits, deep cavities, or fungus on the trunk, which can signal decay inside the tree
- Limbs growing out over the roof, driveway, or other structures, where a failure does the most damage
None of these guarantee a tree will come down, but together they help you spot which trees deserve a closer look before peak season. Older and larger trees, and any that have already been through nearby construction or past storm damage, are worth extra attention, since their root systems and structure may already be compromised.
There are a few sensible steps a homeowner can take. Make a slow loop around the yard after the first storm of the season and note anything from the list above. Keep gutters and drains clear so water moves away from the root zones near the house. And for any tree that shows clear warning signs, it is worth bringing in a tree service. Selective pruning can reduce the wind load a canopy catches, and a tree that is already failing may be safer removed before it comes down on its own.
Storm season is easier to plan for than to clean up after. A little attention to the trees on your property in June can make a real difference once the heavier weather arrives later in the summer.