Northeast Oklahoma gets ice storms most winters, and even a quarter inch of ice can add hundreds of pounds to a single tree. If an ice storm has left broken limbs and fallen trees on your property, our storm cleanup crew can help. Call (918) 221-9538.

Here is how ice damages trees, how to tell which trees can be saved, and what to do after the storm.

How Ice Damages Trees

Freezing rain coats every branch and twig in ice. The extra weight bends limbs far past their normal range. Trees with weak branch angles, like Bradford pears, silver maples and some elms, tend to split. Evergreens such as eastern red cedars and pines hold more ice on their needles and can bend or snap at the top. Trees already weakened by decay or old storm damage are the first to fail.

Signs a Tree Is Too Damaged to Save

Split Trunks and Cracked Limbs

A crack running down the main trunk, or a major limb torn away from the trunk, usually means the tree's structure is compromised. These trees often need removal.

Leaning or Uprooted Trees

A tree that has started to lean after the storm, or has soil lifted around its base, may have broken roots. A sudden new lean toward a house or driveway is a serious warning sign.

Hanging Broken Branches

Broken limbs caught in the canopy, sometimes called hangers, can fall days or weeks later. Stay out from under them and have them removed.

Safety Checklist After an Ice Storm

Stay away from downed or sagging power lines and report them to your utility.
Do not walk under trees that are still coated in ice.
Keep children and pets out of the yard until hangers are removed.
Take photos of damage for insurance before cleanup starts.
Do not climb trees or use a chainsaw on limbs under tension.

Which Damaged Trees Can Be Pruned and Which Need Removal

If a tree has lost less than about a third of its crown and the trunk is sound, careful pruning can often save it. We remove broken limbs back to healthy wood so the tree can seal the wounds. If the trunk is split, the main leader is gone or most of the crown is lost, removal is usually the safer choice. For urgent cases, call our emergency tree removal line.

Trim Before Winter to Lower the Risk

The best defense against ice damage is tree trimming before winter. Removing dead wood, thinning heavy limbs and cutting back branches over the roof and driveway means less weight and fewer weak points when the ice arrives.

When to Call a Tree Service

Call a tree service if a tree or large limb is on a structure, a tree is leaning after the storm, broken limbs are hanging overhead or you are not sure a damaged tree is safe. A professional can tell you what can be saved and what needs to come down.

Ice Storm Tree Damage FAQs

Should I knock ice off my trees?

No. Ice-coated branches are brittle, and hitting them often causes more breakage. Let the ice melt naturally.

How long after a storm can a tree fall?

Damaged trees and hanging limbs can fail days or even weeks later, especially in the next wind or rain. Have damaged trees checked soon after the storm.

Can a damaged tree recover?

Many trees recover well if the trunk is sound and broken limbs are pruned properly. Trees with split trunks or major crown loss usually do not.

Request a Free Estimate

For ice storm cleanup, pruning or removal in Tahlequah and Cherokee County, call or text (918) 221-9538.

Ice Storm Tree Damage in Oklahoma: What Homeowners Should Do