Snohomish County • Fall & winter tree care
The rainy season can change the ground beneath your trees. Saturated soil can weaken their hold, and a windstorm can bring a vulnerable tree down.
Have a tree near your home, driveway, or fence that worries you? Let’s take a look before the storms arrive.
Why saturated soil matters — OSU ExtensionWhat happens below the surface
A tree depends on both its roots and the soil around them for support. After prolonged rain, saturated ground can lose holding strength. When wind pushes against the canopy, that weakened anchorage can allow the root plate to lift and the whole tree to topple.
Oregon State University Extension explains that some whole-tree failures happen because wet soil gives way, even when the roots themselves have not broken.
Rain does not make every tree dangerous. Tree condition, root health, soil, drainage, and wind exposure all matter. An on-site look helps determine whether pruning, removal, or another next step makes sense.
Repeated rain fills the soil with water and can reduce its grip around roots.
Gusts load the canopy and transfer that force down the trunk to the roots.
A vulnerable tree can uproot, putting nearby buildings and access routes at risk.
Learn more: saturated soil and wind — Alabama Cooperative Extension.
Local history. A practical reason to prepare.
County records and city storm updates show why wet-season preparation belongs on a homeowner’s list.
NOV 2006 + JAN 2009
Snohomish County records document severe flooding in November 2006 and another flood in January 2009. The county notes that floods most commonly occur from November through March during heavy rain or rapid snowmelt.
County flood history (PDF) ↗NOVEMBER 2022
On November 6, the City of Snohomish reported crews responding to fallen trees and power lines, with parts of the city still without power. Its update described extensive countywide damage from high winds and distressed trees.
City storm update ↗NOVEMBER 19, 2024
The county’s emergency proclamation describes hundreds of trees knocked into roads and power lines. At the storm’s peak, 135,000 Snohomish County PUD customers lost power, and some neighborhoods were cut off for days.
County emergency proclamation (PDF) ↗Flood records establish the local history of wet conditions; they do not identify the cause of an individual tree failure.
Storm damage in Snohomish
A fallen tree can reach far beyond the yard. These photos from Snohomish show damaged roofs and siding, fallen limbs, and debris around homes and parked vehicles.
A large evergreen lies across this Snohomish home, with branches covering the front yard and reaching into the driveway.
A fallen tree stretches over the roof of a single-story house, with broken limbs and debris scattered across the front yard.
Two large trunks have broken through the exterior wall, showing how a falling tree can damage more than the roof.
Fallen trunks and branches cover rooftops and the space between homes. A splintered standing trunk is visible behind them.
After dark, evergreen branches hang over a driveway, with fallen greenery on and around parked vehicles.
Talk with our team about tree removal, pruning, or storm cleanup.
Before the next windstorm
Tell us what has changed, where the tree stands, and what is nearby. You don’t have to figure out the right service yourself.
Ask About My TreeObserve from a safe location. If the tree is moving, cracking, or starting to fall, leave the area and keep others away. Call 911 for immediate danger to people. More on tree warning signs — UC IPM.
Services offered
From a concerning limb to a large removal, we’ll help you understand the work and put together a plan for your property.
Removal of dead, damaged, or problem trees when keeping them is not the right choice for the site.
Explore tree removal →Address damaged branches and other pruning concerns with recommendations suited to the individual tree.
Explore pruning services →Help with fallen or storm-damaged trees. Call to describe the situation and confirm safe access and availability.
Explore emergency services →Deal with the stump left after a removal. Ask us to include stump grinding in your tree-work estimate.
Explore stump grinding →Ask what is included in your quote, including tree-debris cleanup and haul-off. No pruning or removal plan can eliminate every storm risk.
What neighbors are saying
Clear communication, careful work, and a clean finish matter. Here’s what customers have shared about their experience.
“professional, punctual, and super skilled at what they do.”
“the whole process was quick, easy and professional.”
“everything was cleaned up, as promised.”
A straightforward next step
Request a quote or call with your tree concerns and property location.
We’ll arrange an on-site visit and discuss the scope of work.
Approve the work before we schedule the job. Ask about access, cleanup, and timing.
Get ahead of the rainy season
Bring us your tree concerns now. We’ll help you work out what needs attention and what the job involves.
Serving Snohomish, Monroe, Everett, Lake Stevens, Marysville, and nearby communities.
Tell us where the tree is and what worries you. We’ll follow up about the next step.
Request My Free QuoteOr talk with our team425-315-3874Tree down already? Call to discuss the situation. For immediate danger to people, call 911.A few common questions
Have a question about your own property? Call us at 425-315-3874.
Yes. Green foliage alone does not tell you how well a tree is anchored. Saturated soil can lose holding strength, and root problems may be hidden. OSU Extension discusses whole-tree failure and wet soil.
No. The right decision depends on the individual tree and the site. Start by discussing any changes or damage you have noticed. An on-site visit can help identify reasonable next steps.
No. Appropriate pruning can address specific branch concerns, but it does not repair unstable soil or eliminate every risk. The work should be chosen for the tree’s actual condition.
Before the wet, windy stretch is a good time to address an existing concern. If you notice a new lean, lifting roots, or hanging limbs, keep clear and call to explain what has changed.
Keep everyone away. Stay at least 30 feet from downed lines, call PUD at 425-783-1001, and call 911 if life-threatening. Tree work must wait until the utility has addressed the electrical hazard. Read PUD’s guidance.
