EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — As El Paso braces for another windy spring, tree-cutting companies are preparing for a busy season and urging homeowners to take steps now to reduce the risk of falling trees and costly damage.

In Socorro, homeowner Frank Apodaca said several trees on his property became a growing concern as winds pick up in the spring.

“I’m afraid it’ll fall in the middle of the night,” Apodaca said.

Apodaca said the trees were rotting from the inside, making a fall a matter of when, not if.

He hired a tree service to remove them, even though they had been on his property for decades.

“Its a shame and I hate to take them down because of the history, but we’ve gotta mitigate the risk of them falling,” he said.

Emily Schmalz reports on Tree services gear up for March and April peak winds, urging annual pruning now (Credit: KFOX14)

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Apodaca said one of two trees fell last week during high winds.

He said acting quickly can help prevent expensive damage to his home and property. “I park two vehicles and our tractor underneath that carport and so if it falls on it, certainly you’ll gain a lot of damage,” Apodaca said.

Tree service operators say the spring months are typically the busiest time of year. Peak windy season usually hits in March and April, when fallen trees and branches become common.

Kevin Flores, owner of Next Tree Services, said homeowners should look for warning signs and address them early, including dead branches.

“If you see any dead branches on your tree try to get those pruned and cleaned because that just spreads the dryness in the tree and only hurts it more,” Flores said.

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Flores said regular pruning and trimming can help prevent damage and keep trees healthier.

“Pruning a tree you’re doing it for the health of the tree, you know for the well-being of the tree,” he said. He also recommended annual maintenance. “You would want to prune your tree every year so that you can try to mitigate it dying off,” Flores said.

Flores said his crews work around the clock during the windy season to prevent problems and remove fallen trees, and that a quick assessment by homeowners can help reduce the chance of damage.

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