How to Prepare Your Trees for Santa Ana Wind Season

Every fall, the Santa Ana winds arrive in Ventura County with the potential to bring down branches and whole trees. Many homeowners don't think about their trees until after a wind event — but there's a lot you can do beforehand to dramatically reduce your risk.

The most important thing is to have a certified arborist assess your large trees before wind season. We're looking for several specific things: co-dominant stems (two trunks growing at a steep V angle, which creates a weak union that often fails in wind), large dead branches (widow makers), trees that have been topped (which creates weak, fast-growing regrowth), and trees with root problems indicated by soil heaving or fungal growth at the base.

Crown thinning is one of the most effective things you can do for wind resistance. Thinning removes 15–25% of the canopy, allowing wind to pass through the tree rather than push against it like a sail. This reduces the force on the trunk and roots significantly — studies have shown properly thinned trees can withstand substantially higher wind speeds than dense, unpruned trees.

For eucalyptus trees specifically — very common in older Camarillo neighborhoods — the risk is particularly high. Eucalyptus are notoriously brittle and prone to sudden limb drop even in calm conditions. If you have large eucalyptus near structures, they deserve a professional assessment before every wind season.

The time to address tree hazards is before a storm, not during or after. A proactive inspection and any recommended work is almost always far less expensive than emergency response, cleanup, and property repairs after a tree comes down.