What Should I Do if a Tree Branch Breaks?

Why Do Tree Branches Break?

Branches can fail for many reasons.

Common causes include:

• Strong winds

• Storms

• Heavy rain

• Snow or ice loading

• Decay

• Weak branch unions

• Included bark

• Previous damage

• Excessive end weight

• Dead branches

• Structural defects

• Vehicle or machinery damage

Sometimes several factors contribute to the same failure.

What Should I Do First?

Look at the situation from a safe distance.

Don't immediately walk underneath the tree to inspect the break.

Check whether:

• The branch is completely on the ground

• Part of it remains attached

• Other branches have been damaged

• Anything is hanging in the crown

• The trunk or a major union has split

• The tree has changed position

• Nearby property has been damaged

• Roads or footpaths are affected

If there is anything unstable overhead, keep people away.

What if the Branch Has Fallen Completely to the Ground?

If a relatively small branch is already lying safely on the ground and there are no other damaged branches above, the immediate danger may have passed.

However, still look at the tree from a safe position.

A branch failure can sometimes damage neighbouring limbs or reveal a weakness where it detached.

Large fallen branches can also be extremely heavy and difficult to process safely.

What Is a Hanging Branch?

A hanging branch is a broken or detached branch that remains caught in the tree.

It may be supported by:

• Other branches

• Small twigs

• Torn wood fibres

• Ivy or climbing vegetation

• A neighbouring tree

These branches can be unpredictable.

Something that appears securely wedged can move when the wind changes or when supporting material breaks.

Should I Stand Underneath to See How Secure It Is?

No.

Don't stand underneath a hanging branch to inspect it.

You don't need to determine exactly what is holding it up before deciding to keep clear.

Use photographs or binoculars from a safe position if necessary.

Can I Pull a Hanging Branch Down With a Rope?

Trying to pull a large suspended branch down yourself can be dangerous.

Its path may be unpredictable.

It can:

• Swing

• Rotate

• Break into sections

• Catch on other branches

• Pull additional branches down

• Fall towards the person pulling it

Professional removal may involve controlled techniques to manage the branch safely.

Can I Cut a Partially Attached Branch Myself?

Small accessible branches may sometimes be straightforward for a competent person using suitable hand tools.

Large partially attached branches are very different.

Broken timber can be under considerable tension or compression.

Once cut, it can move suddenly.

If the branch is large, high, under tension or requires a chainsaw, professional tree work is generally the sensible option.

Why Is Storm-Damaged Timber Difficult to Cut?

Normal branches have relatively predictable loading.

A storm-damaged branch may have been twisted or forced into an unnatural position.

Parts of the timber can be:

• Compressed

• Stretched

• Bent

• Trapped

• Partially fractured

• Supporting another limb

Cutting into that timber can suddenly release stored forces.

This is why damaged trees can require more care than ordinary pruning.

What if the Branch Has Torn Bark From the Trunk?

Large branch failures can tear bark and wood from the main stem.

This can leave a substantial wound.

Don't attempt to make the wound look neat by cutting large areas of healthy bark away.

The remaining damaged branch and torn material should be assessed to determine what corrective pruning is appropriate.

Will the Tree Heal After a Branch Breaks?

Trees don't heal wounds in the same way that human skin does.

Instead, they respond by forming new tissue around the damaged area and compartmentalising injury internally.

The tree's ability to respond depends on factors including:

• Species

• Health

• Age

• Size of the wound

• Position of the break

• Amount of remaining healthy crown

A small branch failure may have relatively little long-term effect.

A huge tear through the main stem is much more significant.

Should the Broken Branch Be Cut Flush With the Trunk?

No, not automatically.

Correct pruning generally respects the natural branch attachment and branch collar where present.

Cutting unnecessarily deep into the trunk can create a larger wound and remove tissues involved in the tree's natural response.

Good pruning isn't simply about making the cut as close to the trunk as possible.

What Is a Branch Collar?

The branch collar is the area of tissue around the base of many branches where the branch joins the parent stem.

Its appearance varies between trees.

Appropriate pruning normally aims to avoid unnecessary damage to this area.

Understanding branch attachment is one reason professional pruning can be preferable to simply cutting branches flush with the trunk.

Does One Broken Branch Mean the Tree Is Unsafe?

Not necessarily.

Trees can lose individual branches and remain structurally viable for many years.

However, it is worth asking why the branch failed.

A branch broken purely by an exceptional storm may be different from repeated failures caused by decay or weak structure.

If several substantial branches have failed recently, closer assessment is sensible.

What if a Main Limb Has Broken?

Failure of a major scaffold limb can have a much greater effect on the tree.

It may:

• Leave a large wound

• Expose decay

• Alter crown balance

• Damage neighbouring branches

• Reveal a weak union

• Affect the future structure of the tree

Corrective pruning or further management may be necessary.

What if Two Main Stems Have Started Splitting Apart?

This can be considerably more serious.

A developing split between large stems may indicate failure of a major structural union.

Keep clear of the potential fall area and arrange professional assessment.

Don't attempt to strap, bolt or pull large stems together yourself.

What if the Tree Has Started Leaning as Well?

A newly developed lean following branch failure or a storm deserves attention.

Look from a safe position for:

• Freshly cracked soil

• Lifted ground

• Exposed roots

• Root plate movement

• A changed trunk angle

If the whole tree has moved, the issue may involve the root system rather than just the broken branch.

Can the Tree Be Saved?

Often, yes.

A broken branch doesn't automatically mean tree removal.

Depending on the damage, appropriate management may involve:

• Removing the broken branch

• Removing hanging material

• Corrective pruning

• Deadwooding

• Crown reduction

• Monitoring the tree

• Further assessment

Removal may only become necessary when the damage has seriously compromised the tree's structure or stability.

Can Crown Reduction Help After Branch Failure?

Sometimes.

If branch failure has left an unbalanced crown or exposed other structural concerns, selective crown reduction may form part of future management.

However, this should be based on the individual tree.

Removing excessive amounts of healthy crown immediately after damage can create additional stress.

Should I Paint or Seal the Wound?

Routine painting or sealing of pruning wounds generally isn't required for most tree pruning.

Trees have their own biological processes for responding to wounds.

There can be specific exceptions depending on species, pest or disease considerations, but wound paint shouldn't automatically be applied to every broken branch.

What if the Branch Has Fallen Onto My House?

Keep away from the affected area if there is any possibility of further movement.

Don't immediately start cutting a large branch resting on a roof or structure.

Its weight may be distributed between the tree and building, and removing the wrong section can cause sudden movement.

Photograph the damage from a safe location and contact the appropriate professionals.

Your insurer may also need to be informed where property damage has occurred.

What if the Branch Is Blocking a Road?

If a fallen tree or branch is obstructing a public highway or creating an immediate danger to road users, contact the appropriate highway authority or emergency service depending on the severity of the situation.

Don't put yourself in traffic trying to clear a dangerous obstruction.

What if the Branch Is Near Overhead Power Lines?

Stay well clear.

Don't touch the branch or attempt to remove it.

Wood and vegetation can become hazardous around electrical equipment, particularly when wet.

Contact the electricity network operator or appropriate emergency service where necessary.

Should I Take Photographs?

Yes, provided you can do so safely.

Useful photographs include:

• The whole tree

• The broken branch

• Where it failed

• Any hanging branches

• The trunk

• The base of the tree

• Damage to nearby property

These can help a tree surgeon understand the situation before attending.

Dragonfly Broken Branch and Storm-Damage Tree Work

Dragonfly Tree & Garden Services provides professional Tree Surgery throughout our service areas.

Depending on the situation, work may include:

• Broken branch removal

• Hanging branch removal

• Deadwooding

• Corrective pruning

• Crown reduction

• Crown raising

• Storm-damage work

• Tree removal where necessary

Every damaged tree is different, so the appropriate work depends on what has failed and the condition of the remaining structure.

39 Years of Industry Experience

Dragonfly Tree & Garden Services brings 39 years of industry experience to tree and garden work.

When a branch fails, the job isn't necessarily finished once the broken timber has been removed.

It is also important to consider why it failed and what condition the remaining tree is in.

Where the tree can reasonably be retained, sensible pruning may be all that is required.

Where more serious structural damage exists, we'll explain the options.

Broken Tree Branch Removal in Cannock, Lichfield, Rugeley and Penkridge

Dragonfly provides professional tree work throughout:

• Cannock

• Lichfield

• Rugeley

• Penkridge

We also cover many surrounding areas.

If a tree branch has broken, send photographs taken safely from ground level where possible.

Try to show both the damaged branch and the complete tree.

Has a Branch Broken From Your Tree?

If a branch is hanging, partially attached or has damaged other parts of the tree, keep clear of the area underneath.

Don't assume the entire tree needs removing, but don't ignore significant damage either.

Dragonfly Tree & Garden Services can assess the situation and carry out appropriate tree work throughout Cannock, Lichfield, Rugeley, Penkridge and surrounding areas.

Contact us and, where safe, send photographs showing what has happened.