EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
In Socorro, homeowner Frank Apodaca said several trees on his property became a growing concern as winds pick up in the spring.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m afraid it\u2019ll fall in the middle of the night,\u201d Apodaca said.<\/p>\n
Apodaca said the trees were rotting from the inside, making a fall a matter of when, not if. <\/p>\n
He hired a tree service to remove them, even though they had been on his property for decades.<\/p>\n
\u201cIts a shame and I hate to take them down because of the history, but we\u2019ve gotta mitigate the risk of them falling,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Emily Schmalz reports on Tree services gear up for March and April peak winds, urging annual pruning now (Credit: KFOX14)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
RECOMMENDED: Fire damages Las Cruces home, three pets rescued<\/a><\/p>\n Apodaca said one of two trees fell last week during high winds. <\/p>\n He said acting quickly can help prevent expensive damage to his home and property. \u201cI park two vehicles and our tractor underneath that carport and so if it falls on it, certainly you\u2019ll gain a lot of damage,\u201d Apodaca said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Kevin Flores, owner of Next Tree Services, said homeowners should look for warning signs and address them early, including dead branches. <\/p>\n \u201cIf 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,\u201d Flores said.<\/p>\n