Nelson based Grant Ruthven has seen the damage done by trees from many angles. As a dairy farmer, as an arborist and now as a Rural Manager for FMG Advice and Insurance.
From growing them, to pruning them and now to navigating the damage caused by trees in windstorms and rain events, he says a tree maintenance programme on your land (whether that is a farm or a residential home) is essential for staying ahead of things going wrong. He also says that trees can hold hidden risks, hiding in plain sight for the right conditions. Here are some of his tips for ensuring you aren’t left out on a limb next time severe weather strikes.
Tricks of the Trees
Hangers, overextended branches and hidden rot or deadwood are three of the most common things Grant has seen causing damage in his career both tree side as an arborist – and on the insurance side with FMG.
1. Hangers
Hangers are branches that have broken off completely and then been caught in the tree. Even though they haven’t fallen yet, they can drop at any time, and the risk of them becoming dislodged and falling increases during a wind event.
“Large hangers can pose a very serious risk, not just to property but to people as well. It is important that if you spot one on your property you get it dealt with as soon as possible – don’t wait until the wind picks up to go out and try remove it.”
Depending on the size or position of it, this might be a job for a qualified arborist.
“If you have any questions around your safety when trying to remove it – then you probably should be calling in the experts. There is an industry for a reason”.
2. Overextended branches
Overextended branches are another one to watch. These are long, heavy limbs that stretch too far out from the tree. In strong winds, they start to swing like a pendulum, putting a lot of stress on the branch.
“The heavier they are and the further they reach, the more likely they are to snap — especially if they’re already weakened. If you’ve got large limbs hanging over roofs, driveways, or high-use areas, they’re worth keeping an eye on.”
Reducing the weight of them or removing them all together is the way to go.
3. Hidden rot and deadwood
Hidden rot and deadwood can be hard to spot, and that’s what makes them so risky. A branch might look perfectly healthy from the outside, but inside it can be rotten and weak.
“It only takes a bit of wind for it to give way. Deadwood in particular becomes brittle over time and can snap without much warning. If something doesn’t look quite right — cracks, previous damage, or sections of a tree or its foliage that aren’t thriving — it’s worth getting it checked.”
Before the storm
- Structural pruning to reduce weight on trees.
- When you are pruning any branches, remove them above the branch collar and if the limb is heavy, remove some of the weight first.
- A branch collar is the ring of bark at the base of a tree branch where it meets the trunk. It contains special cells that allow the tree to naturally heal and seal itself after pruning.
- Remove overextended branches and hangers.
- Scan trees for rot or deadwood.
- Trees do have a certain life span. Knowing what species you have on your property and their expected lifespan can help you put a plan in place to manage them – and inform when it might be time to turn them into firewood before they meet an unwelcome demise.
After the storm
“Once a storm’s passed, the first thing to ask is whether your trees are actually safe to be around. It’s not about rushing in to fix everything — it’s about spotting the risks. Things like hangers caught up in the canopy, broken limbs, or branches that look overextended or damaged. A quick check can go a long way once you know what you’re looking for.”
“Take extra care around trees with exposed rootballs. These are fallen trees where the roots have lifted out of the ground, making them extremely unstable. The rootball is heavy and under tension, and cutting weight from the trunk or canopy can cause it to suddenly spring back into the hole it came from. Trees in this condition are best left alone — this is work for trained arborists with the right equipment.
Tidy Up Tips
- Stop and look up — check for hanging, cracked, or damaged branches above you.
- Keep people and pets away from areas with damaged trees.
- Avoid working under trees that look unstable or have broken limbs.
- If it’s overhead, hanging, or under tension, leave it to a qualified arborist
Preparedness isn't a one-off exercise. Each season is a good prompt to walk your property, top up emergency supplies and think about what you'd do differently based on what you've seen. The properties that handle severe weather best aren't necessarily the most resourced. Rather, they're the ones where the owners have thought it through, made a plan, and kept it current. The weather will always surprise us, but that kind of steady preparation makes an enormous difference to how you come out the other side.
This article was previously published in On The Land magazine.
