Tucson’s monsoon season arrives fast. One week you’re dealing with dry June heat; the next, you’ve got 60 mph winds, driving rain, and hail. For trees and landscapes that haven’t been prepared, the damage can be significant — and costly.
The good news: most storm damage is preventable. Here’s the checklist our arborist runs through every spring before monsoon season starts.
1. Trim Dead and Hanging Limbs
Dead limbs are the number-one source of storm damage. They don’t bend in the wind — they break. And when a 50-pound dead Mesquite limb falls on your fence, your car, or worse, that’s a claim you’ll wish you’d avoided.
Walk your property and look up. Any limb that looks dry, discolored, or leafless (outside of normal dormancy) should be assessed. When in doubt, call an arborist — a professional can quickly distinguish dead wood from dormant wood.
Timing: Get limbs trimmed by late May. June jobs fill up fast as homeowners scramble before the first storm.
2. Inspect Your Irrigation System
Monsoon rains can saturate soil that your irrigation system is also watering. If your controller isn’t set to pause during rain events, you’re overwatering your plants at the exact moment they don’t need it — and potentially creating root rot conditions.
- Check for broken emitters or sprinkler heads before the season starts
- Install a rain sensor or smart controller that pauses irrigation during storms
- Inspect pressure regulators — summer heat causes pressure fluctuations that can blow drip emitters
3. Clear Drainage Paths
Tucson’s desert soil doesn’t absorb heavy rain quickly. If drainage paths across your property are blocked by rock, debris, or poorly positioned plants, you’ll end up with standing water — which damages roots, erodes soil, and creates mosquito breeding grounds.
Walk your property after a heavy watering and note where water pools. A few hours of grading and drainage work before monsoon season can save you from major erosion repairs after it.
4. Assess Trees for Structural Risk
Not all trees are created equal when it comes to wind resistance. The ones to watch:
- Trees with co-dominant stems (two trunks growing from a single base) — a structural weak point under high wind
- Trees with significant lean — toward structures, vehicles, or outdoor living areas
- Trees with large, dead-weight limbs over rooflines or fences
For trees with structural concerns, cabling and bracing is a professional option. Steel cables installed between major limbs redistribute wind load and prevent splits. Done correctly, it’s a 10–20 year solution that preserves a tree you’d otherwise need to remove.
5. Photograph Your Yard Now
This is the most overlooked item on the list. Pull out your phone and photograph your trees, fences, structures, and landscaping before storm season begins. If a storm damages your property, these “before” photos are invaluable for insurance claims — they document the pre-existing condition and make it clear what the storm caused.
What to Do AFTER a Storm
- Don’t go near a fallen tree or downed limb until you’re certain there are no live power lines involved
- Call us immediately for emergency assessment if a large limb fell on or near a structure
- Document damage with photos before any cleanup begins
- Contact your insurance company — we provide documentation to support claims
Not sure if your trees are monsoon-ready? Schedule a pre-storm assessment before June — (520) 445-1080.