Storm Damage Tree Removal in Wilmington, MA
After a spring nor’easter, a red oak near the Route 93 corridor in Wilmington, MA lost its root plate and came down across a driveway. We cleared the access first, sectioned the trunk, and hauled it the same day. The phone rang at first light and we were already loading the truck.
- Bucket truck
- Chipper
- Rigging lines
- Chainsaws
The storm came through overnight; the phone rang at first light
That is how nor’easters work in this part of Wilmington. The wind comes off the highway, and the trees along the Route 93 line take the worst of it. This one was a red oak with its root plate lifted clean out of the saturated spring ground, lying across the driveway.
When a storm rolls through, we triage by danger: trees on houses first, trees on wires second, blocked driveways third. This one was a driveway, so we got the homeowner their access back and came back through for the rest.
Why the trees along the highway go first
The Route 93 corridor acts like a wind tunnel. White pines and red oaks along that edge take sustained wind loads that slowly weaken the root plate, and in saturated spring soil the whole tree can tip. We see more root-plate failures in North Wilmington near the highway than almost anywhere else we work.
A lifted root ball is not a maybe. Once the roots are out of the ground, the tree is done — there is no pruning your way out of it. We sectioned the trunk, chipped the brush onsite, and left the driveway clean.
A new lean is the one that should scare you
If you back up to the highway tree line, walk your perimeter after every big storm and look at the trunks. A tree that has leaned the same way for ten years is usually fine. A tree that suddenly leans — especially after a storm in wet ground — has a root problem and needs to come down before the next one finishes the job.
Catch it standing and we can plan the removal. Catch it after it is on your car at 2am and the job is the same, just less fun for everybody. Give us a call before the next one — we would rather look at it on a Tuesday than a Sunday night.
Got a job like this in Wilmington?
Free estimate, fully insured, owner on every job. We will tell you honestly whether it needs removal, pruning, or nothing at all.
(978) 375-2272