Train young trees
Early pruning improves form, so fewer weak unions form later.
Storm damage in Grand Junction, CO
After the wind, look before you saw
After a wind or storm in Grand Junction, stay clear of hanging limbs and anything near a line, and call 911 or your utility for downed wires. Then check whether the tree can be saved. Colorado foresters say a healthy tree with its leader and half its crown has a good chance of recovery.
Live alerts
Is wind on the way now?
This panel reads the National Weather Service directly when the page opens. If an alert for wind, severe storms or a winter storm is active, a banner also appears across this site. When nothing is active or the service cannot be reached, the advice below still applies.
National Weather Service status
Live alerts load with JavaScript. If they do not appear, check the National Weather Service Grand Junction page for wind and storm warnings.
In order
Five steps after the storm
From the Colorado State Forest Service and the International Society of Arboriculture. A tree already on a house or a line is an emergency, so go straight to who to call first.
- 01
Check for hazards
Before approaching, look for downed lines and broken limbs still hanging overhead. ISA warns that limbs under tension can react unexpectedly when cut.
- 02
Report lines
Call 911 for a down or sparking line. Then call Xcel Energy at 800-895-4999 or Grand Valley Power at 970-242-0040.
- 03
Check who owns it
Trees between the street and sidewalk may be the city's. Grand Junction forbids pruning or removing public trees without contacting Forestry. Our permit checker covers other towns.
- 04
Assess before cutting
Use the checks below. Photograph the damage first if you may claim on insurance.
- 05
Keep the job small
CSFS says to prune broken branches at the branch collar and call an insured, certified arborist for chainsaw work overhead, ladders, big limbs or whole trees.
Save it or remove it
Can this tree be saved?
Colorado State Forest Service guidance is simple: a tree that is healthy overall and keeps its leader, most major limbs and at least half its crown has a good chance of a complete recovery. Do not over-prune for looks, since most trees quickly grow foliage that hides bare areas.
Good signs
- Healthy before the storm
- Main upward stem, the leader, still intact
- Most major limbs still attached
- 50 percent or more of the crown left
Get it looked at soon
- Leader gone or split
- Roots lifting on one side, or a new lean
- Big limbs hanging or resting on a roof
- Weak-wooded species, like those in our tree guide
Cleanup
Where the wood can go
Burning storm wood is rarely an option in town. Mesa County Public Health limits residential burns to lots of one acre or more, during open burn seasons, with a permit, and only trimmings under one inch thick. Most storm cleanup means chipping and hauling instead.
| Where | Spring season | Fall season |
|---|---|---|
| Mesa County | March 1 through May 31 | September 1 through October 31 |
| City of Grand Junction | March 1 through April 30 | September 1 through September 30 |
Check the county page or call 970-248-6900 before burning, because no burn advisories and fire restrictions override permits. Do not move elm wood with bark inside Grand Junction except for approved disposal, under Chapter 8.32.
Before the next one
Less to clean up next time
The International Society of Arboriculture says no one can prevent all storm damage, but a certified arborist can spot weak points and prepare a tree for rough weather. Here is what that usually means.
Find the defects
Look for weak branches, trunk and root problems, then decide how to manage them.
Remove dead limbs
Dead and defective branches are the first to come down, so take them off first.
Is there a wind warning in Grand Junction right now?
The panel on this page reads active National Weather Service alerts for the Grand Valley when it opens. If it cannot load, check the NWS Grand Junction page. We show wind, severe storm and winter storm alerts, and the site banner only appears for those. Always follow official instructions over anything here.
What should I do first when a tree is damaged?
Stay clear of hanging limbs and lines, and report any downed wire to 911 and your utility. Then find out who owns the tree, and assess the damage before cutting. Limbs under tension can spring when cut, and limbs resting on other trees can still move, so leave those for a crew.
Can a broken tree recover?
Often yes, if it was healthy, still has its leader and keeps about half its crown. The Colorado State Forest Service says the chance of a full recovery is good in that case. Prune broken branches back to the branch collar and avoid over-pruning. Trees missing most major limbs deserve an arborist's look.
Can I burn the branches in Grand Junction?
Usually not, because residential burning needs a permit and a lot of one acre or more. Mesa County Public Health limits residential burns to dry trimmings under one inch thick during open burn seasons, and the city season is shorter than the county season. Most storm wood needs chipping or hauling.
The damaged tree is by the street. Who handles it?
It may belong to the city, so contact them before anyone touches it. In Grand Junction, trees between the sidewalk and the street are generally public, and the City provides their maintenance. Call Forestry at 970-254-3861. Elsewhere, check our permit checker for your town.
Sources
Where this came from
We read each page below on the date shown, and alerts come live from the National Weather Service. The Colorado State Forest Service tips are adapted from International Society of Arboriculture advice, and they date from 2016, so they are general guidance rather than new research.
- Active alerts API . National Weather Service.
Live alerts for the Grand Valley zone and Mesa County.
Accessed - NWS Grand Junction . National Weather Service.
The forecast office for the valley, and the fallback when live alerts cannot load.
Accessed - Caring for Storm-Damaged Trees . Colorado State Forest Service.
Hazard checks, the recovery test, pruning advice and when to hire out.
Accessed - Storm-Related Tree Damage . International Society of Arboriculture.
How storms damage trees, tension hazards and preventive care.
Accessed - Tree Maintenance Near Power Lines . Xcel Energy.
Report broken branches on lines, and the 800-895-4999 number.
Accessed - Outage Center . Grand Valley Power.
The 970-242-0040 outage number.
Accessed - Burn Permits . Mesa County Public Health.
Burn seasons, the one acre rule, what can burn and the 970-248-6900 number.
Accessed - General Tree Care Information . City of Grand Junction.
The rule against damaging public trees, and how to tell public from private.
Accessed
Send the details
Storm damage? Send the details
Tell us what came down and what it is near, with photos if it is safe to take them. We follow up with next steps and a written price.
What happens next
- 1 Send the details What the tree is doing, where it is, and a photo or two if you have them.
- 2 We follow up You hear back the way you asked, with next steps.
- 3 Price in writing You see it before a saw starts, and the yes or no stays with you.
What helps us price it
- A photo of the whole tree and one of the problem
- Roughly how tall it is and how thick the trunk is
- What it could hit: a roof, a fence or power lines
- How a truck gets there, and how wide your gate is
- Whether you also want the stump ground and the wood hauled
If a tree is on a power line or anyone is hurt, call 911 or your electric utility first.
More tree services across the valley
Tree removal
Dead, leaning or too close to the house.
Tree trimming and pruning
Deadwood, heavy limbs and clearance.
Stump grinding
Ground below grade, ready to replant.
Tree health and disease
Yellow leaves, dead limbs, beetles and cankers.
Cabling and bracing
Support for a weak fork or a heavy limb.
Land clearing
Lots, brush, Russian olive and tamarisk.
Wildfire mitigation
Thinning and cleanup around the home.
Guides and tools: Grand Valley tree guide, Tree permit and HOA checker, Tree removal cost estimator, Storm alerts and damage help.