What should I do after storm damage?
Keep people away from damaged trees and wires. Report electrical hazards before arranging cleanup. A broken crown does not automatically mean the whole tree must be removed. [1032] [1033]
Updated 2026-10-25
What a year of care looks like.
Most of the work happens below ground, in the soil the roots live in. Here it is, one step at a time.
A year of care, step by step.
Most of the work happens below ground, in the soil the roots live in. Press play, or pick a step.
Start at the soil line.
Two things we look for first: mulch piled against the trunk, and soil packed hard by mowers, cars and feet.
Uncover the root flare.
Compressed air blows the soil away without cutting roots. A root wrapping the trunk can be cut free, if that is safe for the tree.
Loosen packed soil.
We open channels in the packed soil with air and work in compost, so new roots have somewhere to grow.
Test before adding anything.
A soil test shows the pH and nutrients, and it decides what, if anything, the tree needs.
Add only what is short.
Many trees need no fertilizer at all. If the test shows a shortfall, we add only what is missing.
Mulch wide, water deep.
Two to four inches of mulch, as wide as you will allow, kept off the trunk. In dry spells, a slow, deep soak.
Come back every year.
We check the tree top to bottom once a year and leave a written report, so small changes get caught early.
Handle the hazard first. Decide the tree's future after the scene is safe.
First hours: stay outside the danger area
Hanging branches and bent trunks can release stored energy without warning. Do not climb, pull branches down or cut wood under tension. MU Extension warns that storm cleanup is not ordinary firewood cutting. Keep children and pets away from the damaged area. [1032]
Who to call
In Memphis, report downed, sparking or extremely low wires to MLGW at 901-528-4465. [1028] In the St. Louis area, report trees on electric lines through Ameren's safety and reporting channels. Never remove a branch from a wire. Call 911 for an immediate threat to life, including someone touching a downed line. [1033] City-owned trees need the city's involvement; private work on a St. Louis City Tree requires Forestry approval. [1002]
Once safe: record the damage
Take photographs only from a safe position. Keep a written record of what happened and any work authorized. Contact your insurer with policy questions before assuming cleanup will be covered. This guide does not decide insurance coverage or responsibility for a neighbor's tree.
During the first 72 hours: separate cleanup from removal
After urgent hazards are addressed, ask for an assessment of the remaining trunk and crown. MU Extension recommends patience where a damaged tree does not pose an immediate physical risk. Some trees can recover with appropriate care. Others have major structural damage that supports removal. Do not let a cleanup deadline substitute for that assessment. [1032]
Check local debris rules
Memphis directs residents to its address-based collection schedule for yard debris and outside-the-cart waste. Confirm current instructions for your address and the storm event. [1022] St. Louis City distinguishes twigs from large branches. Branches over two inches in diameter should be bundled in six-foot lengths for bulky pickup under its published guidance. That is a disposal rule, not advice to cut dangerous limbs yourself. [1023] Both MLGW and Ameren distinguish emergency line clearance from complete debris removal. [1006] [1007]
Do not sign under pressure
Out-of-town crews can be legitimate. A door knock is neither proof of skill nor proof of fraud. Verify the company and current insurance before authorizing work. Ask the insurer to confirm coverage, and put cleanup responsibilities in writing. MU Extension warns against pressure to hire unverified storm workers. [1032]
Questions about this work
Should every damaged tree come down?
No. If there is no immediate hazard, ask for an assessment before deciding. The extent of structural damage matters more than a messy appearance. [1032]