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Veterans, Seniors & First Responders: ask about our discount
Oklahoma storm season doesn’t follow a calendar. Ice events in February, straight-line wind events in spring, tornado activity from April through June, and late-summer thunderstorms mean that significant tree damage can happen in any month. What varies is the type of damage — and the right response to it.
All Pro handles post-storm tree cleanup across Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Owasso, Bixby, and the surrounding Greater Tulsa Area metro. If the damage is an active emergency — tree on your house, blocking access, or in contact with power lines right now — call (918) 282-1499 directly. For scheduled cleanup after the acute phase has passed, this is the right page.
OKLAHOMA STORM PATTERNS & TREE DAMAGE
Ice accumulation adds weight to canopy limbs at a rate most trees weren’t designed to handle. A half-inch of ice on a mature pecan or silver maple canopy can add hundreds of pounds of load. The failure pattern is typically large limbs breaking at the crotch junction or midpoint rather than the trunk failing.
Failure pattern depends on root health and trunk integrity. Trees with shallow root systems (silver maple, Bradford pear) often uproot entirely. Trees with internal decay fail at the rot pocket.
Even trees well outside the direct path can experience extreme brief wind loading. Co-dominant leaders that survived previous storms can fail in a single gust.
Combination of wind and rain. Saturated soil dramatically reduces root anchorage — trees that seemed stable in dry conditions can uproot under relatively modest wind loads.
Greater Tulsa Area averages more than 40 inches of rainfall annually — one of the wetter portions of Oklahoma — which means the soil saturation conditions that compromise root anchorage aren’t rare events here. They’re a regular seasonal factor. Clay-heavy soils common across the Tulsa metro retain moisture longer than sandy or loam soils, which means the window of reduced root anchorage after significant rainfall can extend days beyond the storm itself. A tree that looked stable before a multi-day rain event may be standing on a compromised root system by the time the sun comes out. This is particularly relevant for silver maples and Bradford pears — both shallow-rooted species widespread across newer Broken Arrow and Bixby developments — and for mature oaks in older Tulsa neighborhoods where decades of clay soil compaction have limited root spread.
WHAT THE CLEANUP INVOLVES
Large limbs down in a yard or driveway are the most common post-storm call. Limbs are cut into sections, chipped or loaded for haul-out, and the area raked clear. If the limb was attached to a tree that is otherwise healthy, we assess the wound and remaining structure before leaving.
A widow-maker is a large broken or hanging limb still attached to the tree or caught in the canopy. These are among the most dangerous post-storm situations. Widow-maker removal requires a climber, rigging, and controlled lowering rather than simply pulling the limb down.
When a tree splits at a major crotch junction, one section often counterbalances the other. The removal sequence must account for this — releasing the counterbalance at the wrong point can send the suspended section in an uncontrolled direction.
An uprooted tree typically lies with a visible root ball. Removal involves sectioning the trunk, managing the root ball, and filling or grading the hole left behind.
When debris has landed on a fence, roof, garage, or other structure, we assess the contact point before cutting to make sure the removal sequence doesn’t cause a secondary failure.
STORM-DAMAGED TREES STILL STANDING
Post-storm assessment of trees still standing is often more important than cleanup of trees that came down. A storm that didn’t knock a tree over may have compromised it in ways that make it significantly more dangerous than before:
Real Job
February ice event in the Tulsa metro. Approximately 0.75 inches of ice accumulation. Widespread limb failure across Broken Arrow, with silver maple and Bradford pear showing the highest failure rates.
Three affected trees: one silver maple with two large limbs down (one in contact with a wood privacy fence), one Bradford pear split at the main crotch with one half suspended, one pecan with three widow-makers in the upper canopy.
Bradford pear addressed first due to the suspended counterbalanced section. Climber rigged and lowered in pieces. Silver maple limbs sectioned. Pecan widow-makers rigged from bucket truck. Ground crew cleared as each section came down.
Property cleared in approximately 5 hours. Documentation provided for homeowner’s insurance claim on the fence damage.
FAQ
Availability moves fast during storm season. Call us at 918-282-1499 and we’ll give you our current availability and get you scheduled as quickly as we can.
It depends on your policy and whether the tree contacted a structure. We provide documentation for your adjuster regardless.
Yes. A hanging widow-maker is a genuine hazard. Keep people and pets out of the area beneath it. Call (918) 282-1499. This may qualify for emergency dispatch rather than scheduled cleanup.
Yes, potentially. Post-storm assessment of large trees near structures is worth doing after any significant weather event. Stressed or partially compromised trees are sometimes more dangerous than trees that came down outright.
Call (918) 282-1499 or request a free estimate. We'll ask a few questions and point you to the right page — or just come out and assess the situation. No charge for the assessment.
Mon–Sat 7am–7pm • 24/7 Emergency Line • Serving Greater Tulsa Area since 2008
