Can wait for a normal cleanup
The wood is on the ground. It is not against the house. Nobody has to walk under it. That pile is storm debris.
Veteran-owned | Marion County and Ocala
Hanging limbs after a storm: when a branch cannot wait
If the limb is hung up, over the house, or near a power line, leave it. That is storm cleanup, not a weekend trim.
Key takeaways
- A limb on the ground, away from the house and the lines, can wait with the rest of the debris.
- A limb still attached, hanging over a roof, a car, or a walk, should not be pulled down.
- Anything on a power line is the utility's job first. Do not spray water and do not climb.
- Green Ace storm cleanup is the crew for the hung limb and the haul-off. It is not a guide to cutting it yourself.
Summer storms in Marion County break oak limbs that do not fall all the way. They look stuck. They are waiting on the next gust, or on the piece of wood that is still holding them.
How to tell them apart
Cannot wait
The limb is overhead, cracked and still attached, resting on the roof, or near a line. Stay out from under it. That is storm cleanup.
Use this when
| What you see | Wait | Call |
|---|---|---|
| Small twigs on the lawn | Yes. Rake them when it is calm. | No. |
| A limb hanging in the crown over the yard | No. Do not pull it. | Yes. |
| Wood on the roof or against a window | No. | Yes. Stay off the roof. |
| A branch on a power line, or a line on the ground | No. | Power company first, then us. Do not touch it. |
What goes wrong if you swap them
Pulling a hanger
The limb can swing, or the piece holding it can break. People get hurt under a tree that looked stuck.
Leaving a limb on the roof for a week
The next rain drives water under the shingles where the wood is sitting. A hung limb is not a stable shelf.
What to tell the crew
- Is a power line involved? If yes, say you already called the utility, or call them before you call us.
- A photo taken from the ground, not from a ladder and not from under the limb.
- Whether anyone is blocked from the door, the drive, or the car.
- The address in Ocala or elsewhere in Marion County.
Where this stops
Do not cut a hanging limb yourself. If the tree is on the house, read a tree on your house. For the pile after the hazard is down, read what debris removal includes.
Send a photo from a safe distance
Do not stand under the limb and do not touch a line. Call the power company first if a wire is involved, then send the request.