A massive tree limb has crashed onto your neighbour’s car, while debris litters the street. If you live on the Sunshine Coast, this scenario probably hits close to home. You already know pruning is vital, but how else can you protect your home and prepare trees for storm season?
When Ex-Cyclone Alfred was causing damage, hundreds of thousands of households lost electricity, mostly because trees couldn’t withstand the punishment.
Here on the Sunshine Coast, our storm season runs from November through April. During these months, full winds and torrential downpours put every tree in your yard to the ultimate test. Unlike other parts of Australia, Sunshine Coast’s beachfront location makes it especially vulnerable to the one-two punch of coastal erosion and inland wind damage.
But here’s the thing:
Many of these tree-related disasters are preventable.
This guide will show you exactly how to get your trees storm-ready before the next blow hits. You’ll discover which warning signs spell trouble, learn preparation tips that reduce the risk of damage, and understand when it’s time to consult a professional arborist.
Tips to Prepare Trees for Storm Season
Getting your trees ready for storm season doesn’t always require advanced horticultural knowledge. These practical steps will help you strengthen your trees and spot potential problems before severe weather arrives.
Assess the Health of Your Trees & Potential Risks to It
Your trees might look sturdy, but appearances can be deceiving. Think of this inspection as a health check-up for your green giants. You’re looking for warning signs that could spell disaster when the next storm rolls through.
Remember: a branch that seems harmless on a calm day can become a projectile when 80km/h winds get hold of it.
Inspect your trees by walking around and looking for these red flags:
- Previous storm damage that never got properly addressed
- Branches growing dangerously near power lines
- Signs of disease such as unusual discolouration or soft spots on the trunk
- Dead, brittle, or weak branches, like those with falling leaves
- Evidence of termite activity (small holes, sawdust-like debris)
- Trees that lean significantly in one direction
- Obvious deadwood in the upper canopy
Most homeowners can spot the obvious problems, but trees are complex living organisms. Even a minor issue on the surface might indicate serious structural problems underneath. That’s why bringing in professional arborists makes sense. They’re trained to read subtle signs in the trees’ health that could mean the difference between a tree that survives the storm and one that becomes your insurance claim.
Support and Secure Young Trees Properly
Newly planted trees face a tough challenge during storm season. Their root systems haven’t had time to establish the deep foundation that mature trees rely on. Without proper support like cabling or bracing, even moderate winds can uproot them or cause a permanent lean that weakens them for life.
Stakes work brilliantly for trees under three years old, but there’s a right way and wrong way to use them. The goal isn’t to create a rigid support system. You want young trees to move slightly, even during strong winds. This natural swaying motion encourages stronger root development and helps the trunk build resilience.
Use soft materials that won’t cut into the bark as the tree grows. Most importantly, don’t forget to remove the stakes once the tree can stand on its own, usually after 12 to 18 months. Trees that stay staked too long become dependent on artificial support and never develop the natural strength they need.
| Tree Size When Fully Grown | Recommended Clear Ground Area |
|---|---|
| Small species (under 9 metres tall) | 3m x 3m around the base |
| Medium species (under 15 metres tall) | 6m x 6m around the base |
| Large species (over 15 metres tall) | 9m x 9m around the base |
This spacing isn’t just about storm preparation. It ensures that your trees get adequate water, nutrients, and airflow to their root systems.
While you’re at it, start securing outdoor furniture and removing other debris that might become a projectile.
Fertilise and Water Properly Ahead of Cyclone Season
The best defence for your trees during storm season is making sure they’re healthy. Think of it like building up the immune system before flu season.
Heavy machinery compacts soil and damages root systems, leaving trees vulnerable when high winds hit. So, give extra attention to trees near recent excavation or recent construction work.
Regular watering and fertilising strengthen the root systems and reinforce overall tree stability. Focus on deep, infrequent watering rather than daily sprinkles, as this encourages roots to grow deeper in search of water.
As for fertilising, each tree requires a different fertiliser depending on its maturity and where it is in the flowering cycle. For instance, citrus trees require more frequent fertlisation after flowering so they can grow big fruits.
Mulch Smart, Not Hard for Proper Tree Care
Apply a 5 to 10 cm layer of organic mulch around each tree’s base, but keep it away from the trunk itself. Arborists call this a “mulch volcano,” and it’s not good because it creates the perfect environment for pests and diseases that weaken your tree from the inside out.
This simple step delivers multiple benefits:
- Retains soil moisture during dry spells
- Suppresses competing weeds
- Regulates soil temperature
- Promotes healthy root development
Build Layers for Extra Stability
A single row of trees provides limited protection compared to a layered approach, so add understory shrubs and ground cover plants beneath your trees to create multiple levels of vegetation. Lower plants help prevent soil erosion around tree roots during heavy rainfall. The varied root systems at different depths also create a stronger underground network that holds everything together.
This multi level landscape approach delivers both practical storm protection and environmental benefits. You’ll create habitat for local wildlife while building a more resilient yard that can handle whatever weather the Sunshine Coast throws at it.
A Proactive Approach to Protect Trees
For Your Peace of Mind, Choose Trees That Can Take a Hit
Smart plant selection starts long before storm season arrives. You want trees that won’t just survive the occasional battering but bounce back stronger without creating problems for your property.
Avoid plants with invasive root systems that threaten paths, driveways, or house foundations. Choose species that fit your available space rather than forcing oversized trees into small yards. For low-maintenance options, consider these drought-tolerant natives:
- Lomandra creates beautiful ground-level interest
- Westringia works perfectly for neat, low-maintenance borders
- Kangaroo Paw adds vertical structure with striking seasonal blooms
Storm Champions from Queensland
These storm survivors experienced little harm whilst surrounding trees suffered major damage:
- Tropical Ash (Flindersia schottiana) – This hardy native maintains its canopy structure and stays firmly rooted even in extreme conditions
- Queensland Maple (Flindersia brayleyana) – Grows tall and timber-straight with exceptional structural integrity
- Tulip Oak (Argyrodendron peralatum) – Deep root systems make this species nearly impossible to uproot
- Weeping Paperbark (Melaleuca leucadendra) – Flexible branches bend rather than break, plus it recovers quickly and thrives in waterlogged coastal conditions
These champions share important characteristics. They’re evolved to withstand full winds, and typically develop extensive root systems plus robust central trunks.
Organise plants according to their watering requirements together to reduce maintenance and ensure each species gets what it needs to stay healthy and storm-ready.
Prune and Position Trees for Maximum Protection
Where you plant your trees matters just as much as which species you choose. Space your trees properly and keep them well away from buildings, fences, and lines. This gives each tree room to develop a sound structure without competing for resources or creating hazards if branches break during storms.
Create Natural Wind Barriers
Planting trees in small groups rather than as isolated specimens also offers surprising benefits. These clusters form protective micro-environments where trees shelter each other from the worst wind damage. The trees on the windward side take the initial impact, reducing wind speed for those positioned behind them.
Think about the prevailing wind patterns during the Sunshine Coast’s storm season. Many severe weather arrives from the southeast, so position your strongest, most resilient trees to intercept these winds first. Then, place more delicate species in the protected zones behind the natural windbreaks.
Research by the Arbor Day Foundation also shows that grouping five or more trees in a shared growing space gives them reciprocal protection, and a stronger underground root network.
Consider Root Development to Avoid Damage to Trees and Property
Tree roots usually spread outward more than double the tree’s height. This means proper planning requires thinking far beyond the visible canopy. Compact growing areas, like those in sidewalk pavements, drastically restrict underground growth, making mature trees unstable during high winds.
You’ll avoid future damage if you provide sufficient open ground around each tree based on what its mature height will be. Small varieties need about 9 square metres of clear soil, medium specimens require around 36 square metres, while large types need roughly 81 square metres of available growing area.
Assessing and Caring for Storm-Damaged Trees
After the winds die down and the debris settles, you’ll need to evaluate which trees can recover and which ones pose ongoing risks. Start with immediate safety concerns, then assess long-term viability to make informed decisions about your landscape overall.
Address Safety Hazards First
Begin your inspection by checking for immediate dangers:
- Broken tree branches and wood scattered on the ground, plus overhead branches ready to drop
- Tilting that can signal underground damage or compromised stability
- Visible or raised roots, disturbed soil, plus fractures near the base area that could be a sign of soon-to-be uprooted trees
Remove fallen branches, leaves, small twigs, plus minor branches that might block water flow around your property. Document everything with clear photographs of damaged areas before beginning major cleanup. You’ll need these for insurance claims and to help arborists assess damage.
Find Trees that can Bounce Back
Some storm damage looks worse than it actually is. Trees with these characteristics usually recover well:
- Most foliage remains intact despite some branch loss
- No major trunk damage or splitting
- Strong, healthy appearance before the storm
- Young evergreens that were blown over but not uprooted
Focus on careful tree pruning to remove broken or hanging branches while preserving as much healthy growth as possible. The remaining leaves produce the energy your tree needs to heal and regrow.
Trees that Suffered Significant Damage and Need Time
Trees with strong underground networks plus healthy tissue typically survive substantial canopy damage. Clear away potential hazards and handle urgent health and safety issues, then allow time for nature’s healing processes. Many trees have impressive recovery abilities, so a hasty tree removal might mean losing a tree that would have fully restored itself in a few months or years.
When are Tree Removals Necessary?
Some damage signals that a tree’s useful life has ended:
- Significant trunk fractures or deep splits
- Dramatic tilting that occurred during the severe weather
- Missing more than 50% of the upper canopy
- Specimens already weakened by illness or rot beforehand
In these cases, expertly removing dead trees and replacing them with weather tolerant varieties gives you the best long-term outcome.
When Your Neighbour’s Tree becomes Your Problem
In most cases, if a healthy tree topples onto your property during heavy rains, a cyclone, or other storm conditions, you’ll bear responsibility for removal costs plus any resulting damage. This applies even when the tree originated next door. Insurance companies and councils typically view storm damage as an “act of nature” rather than anyone’s fault.
When Your Neighbour Pays for Tree Services
The situation changes if you can prove the tree posed a known hazard before the storm hit. If the tree showed obvious signs of disease, structural problems, or instability, and your neighbour ignored requests to address these issues, they may become liable for all costs, including damages to your outdoor space.
Document your requests for tree maintenance, and any previous conversations about your neighbour’s problematic trees. Photos showing visible decay, dead or weak branches, and dangerous leaning can support your case if you need to pursue compensation later.
Why Professional Removal or Tree Maintenance Costs So Much
Tree removal and other tree services on the Sunshine Coast carry high costs because of skilled labour requirements plus specialised equipment needs. Several factors drive up expenses:
- Tree height and complexity
- Proximity to structures or electrical lines
- Requirements for cranes or climbing equipment
- Local council regulations plus disposal fees
While the price tag might seem steep, professional removal prevents much costlier problems like structural damage to your home or serious injuries to family members.
Bring in a Level 5 Arborist When
- You have large specimens growing close to your house and worry about their condition or think they pose safety risks
- There’s obvious deterioration, broken limbs, root displacement, or general poor appearance
- Super dense canopies that may lead to a lot of broken branches and twigs
- You’re uncertain about whether the specimen remains structurally reliable
Level 5 arborists possess the highest qualifications in tree assessment and can provide expert opinions that satisfy insurance companies and local authorities. Their recommendations carry legal weight if disputes arise later.
Early Detection & Prevention Beat Repairs Every Time
Here on the Sunshine Coast, storm season approaches whether you’re ready or not. But if you prepare your trees before storm and cyclone season, that can spell the difference between minor cleanup and major disaster.
Regular inspections and proper pruning, combined with professional guidance when needed, will significantly reduce the risk to your family and property.
