After a storm, if a particular tree has been battered more than the others, you should inspect all the foliage where it's safe to do so and assess the risk. In order to safely accomplish needed pruning and limb repair, you have to inspect the remaining branches, look for splits in the branches, holes in the tree trunk and any unearthed soil.

Where the leader (main upward branch) has been removed, you have to assess how important this is to upward growth or desirable appearances. Every tree is different, and a basically healthy tree can be left with a few remaining branches after a storm: which is why you should contact a certified arborist to inspect both mature trees and young trees. 

Before treating the tree begins, you should ask yourself if you are the best person to make repairs to a tree that has sustained major storm damage. Considering tree services and professional help can be hired, and their experience with working at height and using equipment is a real benefit, you may be better off relying on them.

Whether the tree has minor damage or major storm damage with few branches remaining and weakly attached branches at the crown, you must prioritise the health of yourself and other members of the public from harm. A tree vulnerable after several major limbs have been torn off is a severe hazard to many people.

If you do plan to treat the tree yourself, don't focus on only the damaged limbs, as there could be damage throughout the branch structure. Plan which branches should be removed and where you should make the cut. All branches you remove should be cut from the nearest lateral branch, bud or main stem. Never cut from the middle of the branch. 

Unless dealing with large broken branches, you should be using pruning shears and pole pruners to remove branches smaller than 3 inches in diameter. Removing any jagged remains from smaller limbs is where any homeowner should start. With larger branches, use a sharp saw or power saw, but you must use a safety rope and a harness while creating a new branch structure. 

Any future branching remains the priority, and the tree survivability rate increases when you use the 3-cut procedure. Start with an undercut. You should be working approximately 12 to 18 inches from the main stem or branch, cutting about 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep.

The second is an overcut. Start by sawing approximately 2 to 3 inches from the undercut and keep doing this until the branch has come loose. Finally, remove the remaining stub. Working with the natural depression flush of the trunk and branches, you can save the remaining limbs and prevent further smaller branches from having stunted growth. You have to adapt these rules to every scenario.

A tree with less than half of the original branches could not produce enough foliage for the next season, so it might have to be removed. 

Torn bark occurs especially when a tree has been struck by lightning, either on one major limb or several major limbs. In such instances, you should carefully trim away the loose bark, but don't cut too deep into the wood. Commonly referred to as bark tracing, these wounds should be cut into an elliptical shape.

When done correctly, the wood can begin to heal without much risk of wood decay. Torn bark isn't the most appealing or aesthetic, which is why cosmetic repairs are made with a sharp knife or chisel to smooth out ragged edges. You should be careful when doing this so as not to remove much of the greenish inner bark than necessary.

These fragile layers contain the required tree's food and water for the leaves and roots. Also eliminate hiding places for insects, as torn bark can become a real hotspot for pests. 

Another form of wound repair for storm-damaged trees is fixing split forks in main branches. If these are split apart or partially broken, you may be able to repair them without removing the branch entirely. Repairing split trunks or forks is challenging for most homeowners without experience and qualifications.

To avoid further damage and making cuts and repairs in the wrong location, it's always worth working with a professional. In the case of repairing split forks, it's possible to draw the split portions together, securing them with a steel bolt and threaded screw rod. Using a small block and winch, you can maximise leverage over the damage.

Many arborists choose to install a steel cable between the two main branches being repaired but don't wrap this cable around the branch, or it may begin to girdle it. 

If you have completed light pruning yourself, the final step of wound repair is treating the repair with wound dressing or pruning paint. While the first-aid measures you've implemented are to return the tree to its former beautiful shape, you should also aim to promote new foliage throughout the growing season.

These pruning paints and wound dressings do not increase the healing rate but prevent them from drying out and provide some cosmetics. Once you've done this, leave the tree for a time. While it may never be the same tree as before the storm and could live the rest of its life as a stunted or deformed version of its former self, this is better than removing it. 

It's not uncommon for trees to be uprooted after a severe storm, and in most cases, they will need to be removed. While many arborists want to prevent damage and save trees, there is sometimes no choice. Where there are not enough strong limbs, and the tree has completely fallen over, you should remove the tree entirely.

Removing trees is not a hasty decision to be made by untrained individuals and involves years of experience. For smaller trees, you can sometimes stand them upright with a power lift or sturdy equipment. Using guy wires and cables, the tree could be straightened, allowing future growth.

When removing trees for other reasons (like being an undesirable species because of messy fruit), you may have to receive a permit and cannot remove them as easily.