Once the fall rains settle in across western Washington, the ground stays soaked for weeks at a time. Saturated soil loses much of its grip on roots, and it's one of the main reasons trees blow over in our winter windstorms even when the trunk and branches look perfectly healthy.
Douglas firs, western hemlocks, and red alders growing in shallow or compacted soil are especially prone to this. Watch for soil cracking or mounding on one side of the base, a lean that's new or getting worse, roots lifting out of the ground, or standing water that never drains around a large tree. Trees left standing alone after nearby clearing or new construction are also more exposed than they used to be.
Any of these signs is worth a closer look before the strongest winds arrive. Our crew can assess the tree, tell you plainly what we see, and handle the removal safely if that's the right call.
Have you noticed a tree on your property that seems to lean a little more after a soaking rain?
#TreeSafety #PNWWeather
A real photo of a large conifer with lifted or cracked soil at the base, or an uprooted tree showing the root plate after a storm. A crew member pointing out the soil mound during an assessment also works. Authentic job photos strongly outperform stock images.
Canva text suggestion: "Soaked Soil Lets Go of Roots" or "Check the Base, Not Just the Branches"