After a Kirkland windstorm, the work is usually not one dramatic tree on the roof. It’s a fir snapped halfway up, a hemlock uprooted across the fence, a maple limb on the car and the lawn covered in branches. Kirkland Sentinel Tree Care cleans all of it up: cut, chipped, hauled, and the standing trees checked before the next storm.
What a storm does to Kirkland trees
| Damage | Common in | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Uprooted (root plate lifted) | Douglas fir, hemlock on wet soil | The whole tree failed at the roots. Neighbouring trees on the same soil deserve a look |
| Snapped trunk | Cottonwood, alder, decayed firs | Usually decay at the break point |
| Broken top | Grand fir, redcedar with multiple tops | Remaining tree may be OK, or may need removal |
| Torn limbs | Bigleaf maple | Clean the wound with a proper cut; check what’s left above |
| Hangers | Any tall tree | Broken limbs caught in the crown. Dangerous; never walk under them |
Cleanup, step by step
- Safety first. Wires, hangers, anything under tension.
- Photos. Every tree and every bit of damage, for insurance and the city.
- Cut-up. Fallen trunks cut into rounds; tension released in the right order.
- Chip and haul. Branches chipped; wood hauled or stacked for firewood.
- Check what’s standing. Trees next to a failed tree often lost root support or got hit on the way down.
- Plan the stump. Grind now, or after the ground dries.
Fallen tree vs. standing damaged tree
A tree lying on the ground is cleanup. A standing tree that’s cracked, leaning or hung up is a removal decision, and the city rules apply. If it’s an imminent danger, it comes down now and gets reported within 7 days with photos. If not, it goes through the normal notification or permit, and an arborist report may be what proves it’s a hazard.
Before the next storm
- Thin dense conifer crowns and remove deadwood in late summer or early fall.
- Get trees on the windward edge of a recently cleared lot looked at.
- Sign up for ALERT King County and PSE outage alerts.
- Trees with known root rot: decide before October, not at 2 a.m. in December.
Storm left a mess? Send photos and we'll schedule the cleanup.
(425) 000-0000Common questions
Who do I call when a tree falls in my yard in Kirkland?
If wires are involved, call PSE at 1-888-225-5773 first. If a city street or sidewalk is blocked, call Kirkland Public Works at 425-587-3900. For a tree on your property, call a tree service; if it hit the house, call your insurer too.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree that already fell?
A tree that has already fallen is no longer a standing tree to protect, but document it with photos and dates. If you remove a damaged standing tree as an emergency, Kirkland expects a notification within 7 days with evidence.
Is fallen tree cleanup covered by insurance?
Usually only when the tree hit a covered structure, like the house, garage or a fence. A tree that came down in open lawn is often the homeowner's cost. Check your policy's debris-removal limit.