A Large Branch Has Fallen Off My Tree — What Should I Do Next?

When a large branch comes down in a garden, the immediate reaction is often a mixture of shock, relief that nobody was hurt and anxiety about what to do next. This is a situation we deal with regularly across Cumbria, both as part of storm call-outs and as follow-up visits after spontaneous branch failures. Here is a straightforward guide to what to do.

Step One: Make Sure the Area is Safe

Before anything else, check that nobody has been injured. If anyone has been hurt, call 999 immediately.

Stay clear of the fallen branch until you can assess the situation calmly. In particular:

Do not approach if the branch is in contact with any overhead cables. Even if the cables appear undamaged, this is a potentially life-threatening situation. Call Electricity North West on 0800 195 4141 and do not touch the branch or any connected materials until the power has been confirmed safe.

Be aware that the tree above the failure point may have other weakened or damaged branches that are not immediately obvious. Look up carefully before spending time beneath the canopy.

If the branch has landed on the roof of the house or an outbuilding, assess whether there is any risk of further collapse before approaching. If the structural integrity of the roof is in question, keep clear and get professional advice before allowing anyone into the affected building.

Step Two: Document the Situation

Take photographs of the fallen branch, the point on the tree where it broke, and any damage caused, before you move anything. This documentation is important for insurance purposes, and for any professional assessment of the remaining tree. If you intend to make a home insurance claim, contact your insurer before clearing the branch away.

Step Three: Call Us

Once the immediate situation is safe and documented, give us a call. We will ask you about the size of the branch, the species of tree, where the branch fell and whether there is any obvious damage to the remaining tree at the failure point. Based on this we will give you an initial view of how urgent the situation is and when we can come out.

For situations where a branch has fallen onto a structure, is blocking access, or where there are clearly other damaged branches still in the tree, we can usually attend within a day or two, or faster if the situation is genuinely urgent. Our 24-hour emergency line is 07376804724.

Step Four: Understand Why It Happened

This is an important step that is often skipped. When we visit to deal with the immediate situation, we also assess why the branch failed and what the condition of the rest of the tree is. A branch that fails does so for a reason, and understanding that reason tells you whether the rest of the tree is likely to be at increased risk.

Common causes of branch failure include:

Internal decay at the branch attachment point or along the branch. This is the most common cause of large branch failures in garden trees and is often not visible from the outside. When we cut the removed branch, we look at the internal wood structure to assess how much decay was present.

Storm damage. High winds load branches beyond their structural capacity. A branch that was borderline in its structural integrity before a storm may fail in the gale conditions that Cumbria experiences regularly in autumn and winter.

Summer branch drop. This is a specific and somewhat surprising phenomenon in which large branches, apparently healthy and in full leaf, fall from trees on calm summer days. It is most commonly associated with common lime, beech, oak and some other species, and appears to be related to rapid changes in water status within the branch during hot conditions. The causes are not fully understood but it is a real and documented phenomenon.

Included bark. Where two stems or a stem and a major branch meet at a narrow angle, bark can become trapped in the junction, forming what is called an included bark union. This is a structural weakness that is often not visible without close inspection and can cause branch failures without significant prior warning.

Dealing With the Insurance Side of Things

If the fallen branch has caused damage to your property, a garden structure or anything else, your home insurance policy may cover the cost of repair and may also contribute toward the cost of removing the branch and making the tree safe. Check your policy and contact your insurer promptly. We can provide written reports and photographs to support an insurance claim and have experience of working with loss adjusters on storm and tree damage claims across Cumbria.

24-hour emergency line: 07376804724
Email: enquiries@maxreynoldstreeservices.com

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