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Pine Tree split in storm #941598

Asked August 05, 2026, 11:12 AM EDT

I have a pine tree that was about 45 feet tall. In the Independence day storm the top 20 feet or so split off. The bottom still is straight and green. Will it survive or will the split at the top cause the tree to die? Should I take it down? Thank you

Baltimore County Maryland

Expert Response

If you keep the tree, the broken wood needs to be clean-cut so it has a chance of sealing-over well before wood decay sets in. However, if the leader was lost, conifers like pines typically do not regrow them, so any recovery might make the tree's canopy shape bushier on the top and less pyramidal or tapered than it used to be. Still, the natural growth habit of mature pines usually results in them being more flat-topped with age anyway, rather than the "Christmas tree" cone shape they have while younger. Your tree sounds mature enough that changing the shape of its canopy top probably won't be too abrupt compared to the branches below.

Storm damage on a large tree should always be assessed (and adjusted with pruning as needed) by a certified arborist or licensed tree expert. Not only is an in-person evaluation needed to best see the branching structure and decide on what to prune, but arborists have more in-depth training with regards to tree stability, branching structure, and assessing the tree's ability to resist decay (which varies by species and each individual situation) than we do.

Miri

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