After every storm season, I get calls from homeowners who are worried about their trees. Some are panicking over damage that will heal fine on its own. Others are ignoring problems that could turn dangerous. The tricky part? Sometimes healthy recovery looks worse than actual damage.

I've been looking at storm-damaged trees for years, and I've learned that what you see immediately after a storm isn't always what you get. Trees are surprisingly good at healing – but they're also good at hiding serious problems until it's too late.

What Normal Recovery Looks Like

Trees take a beating during storms, and they're designed to handle it. Flexible branches bend instead of breaking, leaves get stripped to reduce wind resistance, and small twigs snap off to protect larger branches. It's messy, but it's not necessarily damage.

Normal storm recovery includes:

• Leaf loss (even lots of it)

• Small twig breakage throughout the canopy

• Surface bark scrapes from flying debris

• Temporary wilting for a few days after the storm

• New growth slowing down while the tree redirects energy

What surprises people is how quickly trees can bounce back from what looks like severe damage. I've seen trees that lost 40% of their leaves in a storm look completely normal by the next growing season.

The key is that healthy trees compartmentalize damage. They seal off injured areas and focus energy on what's still working. You'll often see new growth sprouting near damaged areas – that's the tree trying to replace what it lost.

When Recovery Isn't Actually Recovery

But sometimes what looks like the tree "trying to recover" is actually a sign of serious problems. Excessive sprouting from the trunk or main branches can indicate the tree is in distress, not healing.

Water sprouts (those straight, fast-growing shoots) often appear after storm damage, and people think it's a good sign. Sometimes it is, but sometimes it means the tree's normal growth pattern has been disrupted in a way that won't fix itself.

Epicormic growth – shoots growing directly from the trunk or main branches – can signal that the tree's canopy was damaged beyond what it can easily replace. These shoots grow fast but stay weakly attached, creating future problems.

Red Flags That Need Attention

Some storm damage doesn't heal – it gets worse. Here's what I look for that tells me a tree needs help:

Structural damage:

• Splits in major branches or the trunk that go deep into the wood

• Bark damage that goes completely around a branch (girdling)

• Leaning that wasn't there before the storm

• Large branches hanging or partially detached

Signs the tree is struggling:

• Leaves turning brown and staying on the tree (instead of dropping normally)

• New growth that looks weak or discolored

• Mushrooms or fungi appearing on the trunk

• Extensive dead areas that aren't healing over

Safety concerns:

• Anything hanging over houses, driveways, or walkways

• Large cracks that are getting bigger

• Root damage that's causing instability

The 30-Day Rule

I tell homeowners to give trees about 30 days after a storm before making major decisions. That's usually enough time to see how the tree responds to the damage.

In the first week, focus on safety – remove anything that's obviously going to fall. But don't panic about everything else yet.

By week two, you should see signs of recovery if it's going to happen. New buds forming, fresh growth starting, leaves looking healthier.

After a month, you'll have a clearer picture of what the tree can handle on its own and what needs professional attention.

The exception is obvious safety hazards – those need immediate attention regardless of the 30-day rule.

Age and Species Matter

Young, healthy trees recover from storm damage much better than old or already-stressed trees. A 10-year-old oak can lose half its canopy and bounce back strong. A 50-year-old oak with the same damage might struggle.

Some species handle storms better than others. In our area:

Good storm recovery:

• Oaks (once established)

• Maples

• Hickories

• Most native species

More vulnerable:

• Bradford pears (notorious for splitting)

• Fast-growing species with soft wood

• Trees with dense, heavy canopies

• Non-native species not adapted to our weather

Trees that were already struggling before the storm – dealing with disease, pest damage, or poor growing conditions – have a much harder time recovering.

What You Can Do to Help

For trees that are recovering well, there are simple things you can do to support the process:

Keep them watered if we're going through a dry spell. Recovering trees need consistent moisture, but not too much.

Remove obvious dead material if you can do it safely. Don't worry about getting every broken twig – focus on anything that's clearly not coming back.

Avoid fertilizing right after storm damage. Let the tree stabilize first.

Don't top or drastically prune damaged trees. That usually makes things worse, not better.

When Professional Help Makes Sense

Some storm damage assessment really does need an experienced eye. Large trees, complex damage, or anything involving safety should get professional evaluation.

I also recommend getting help if you're seeing signs that confuse you. Is that new growth healthy or problematic? Is that split going to heal or get worse? Will that hanging branch fall on its own or hang there for years?

Sometimes the cost of an assessment saves money in the long run – either by avoiding unnecessary work or by catching serious problems before they become emergencies.

Insurance Considerations

If you're dealing with significant storm damage, document everything before you start cleanup. Take photos from multiple angles, especially of damage to structures or obvious safety hazards.

Most insurance companies want professional assessment for major tree damage, especially if it involves potential liability issues. Having documentation helps with claims and decisions about what work is actually necessary.

The Bottom Line

Trees are tougher than most people think, but they're not invincible. Most storm damage that doesn't involve major structural problems will heal with time. But damage that affects the tree's stability, creates safety hazards, or shows signs of decline needs attention.

When in doubt, give it some time and watch what happens. Healthy recovery shows up as new growth, healing over wounds, and general improvement over weeks and months. Continued decline shows up as ongoing dieback, structural problems getting worse, and overall deterioration.

If you're looking at storm damage and can't tell which category you're dealing with, it's worth getting a professional opinion. Call or text us at (423) 443-4533 – sometimes a quick assessment can save you worry and help you make the right decision for your trees and your property.