Trees are part of the landscape that beautify San Diego, but they can cause serious damage — and in some cases, could even be deadly — after a storm. That’s why experts recommend getting ahead of the problem. “It’s important to have trees. We need trees for shade,” Dorothy Reyes said. “They shade my mom’s house, so we have, like, three trees in the backyard and then one tree in the front yard.” Reyes loves the beauty and benefits that trees provide, but like many San Diegans, she’s also mindful of the upkeep they require and the dangers they can pose when left unmaintained. She remembers when a tree fell on top of a parking structure at the Westfield UTC mall a few years back. “One of the trees actually fell down on the property on the parking lot, like right as I went into work, and it could have hit me, and that was pretty scary,” Reyes said. Just weeks ago, a man was killed when he was pinned under a fallen tree branch in City Heights. “In windy situations, trees can topple,” arborist Chuck Morgan said. Morgan said it’s unusual for San Diego to get this much rain early in the year. When San Diego does, the soil becomes saturated, causing the tree roots to start lifting, posing a serious risk. “You could have a tree fall on your house. You could have your tree fall on your neighbor’s house. You could have someone killed or injured because a tree wasn’t well cared for,” Morgan said. How to know if your tree needs maintenance So how do you know if your tree needs maintenance? “If you have trees in your yard, and you notice during a heavy and windy and rainy situation, you notice that the trunk has started to move and the soil where it’s leaning away from is starting to raise and lower, you know that that tree has lost its grip on that soil,” Morgan explained. He said that if it looks like the tree will fall toward your home, get everyone out and call a tree trimming company. Jackie Swanson said she keeps close watch on her grandma’s tree, especially when they know a storm is coming. “For my family’s safety and ours,” Swanson said. NBC 7 reached out to the city of San Diego to inquire about tree maintenance in the city and is awaiting a response. ...read more read less