BISMARCK YARD RECOVERY
Storm and Hail Recovery for Your Yard
After a hail or wind storm in Bismarck, here’s the order:
- Stay away from downed lines.
- Take photos before you clean anything up.
- Get hanging and broken branches down safely.
- Water and wait.
Most hail-shredded trees, shrubs and lawns grow back. Don’t paint wounds, don’t fertilize to “help them recover,” and don’t make big removal calls in the first week. For tree work, hire someone with a City of Bismarck commercial arborist license, not the first truck that shows up at the door.
After the June 20, 2025 and August 3, 2026 storms, the city set up extra ways to get rid of branches.
AFTER THE STORM
After the Storm
AFTER THE STORM
The First 24 Hours
North Dakota Insurance Department: (701) 328-2440, or insurance.nd.gov/storm.
HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE
What Insurance Usually Covers in the Yard
Every policy is different, so read yours. As a general guide, the Maryland Insurance Administration explains how typical homeowners policies treat trees:
So a hail-shredded maple in the lawn is usually yours to deal with, while a tree on the garage roof usually involves your insurer.
TREE RECOVERY
Trees After Hail or Wind
Nebraska Extension’s advice for storm-damaged trees is simple: “In most cases, homeowners should take a ‘wait and see’ attitude.” Healthy trees usually push out new leaves after hail. The bigger concern is bark wounds, which are usually worst on the side facing the storm.
Do Right Away
- Remove loose or hanging branches. Nebraska Extension says these “should be removed as soon as possible.”
- Then deal with cracked, split or twisted branches, using clean cuts.
- Water through summer and fall. Deep, occasional watering in dry spells helps a stressed tree.
- Mulch the root zone. Nebraska Forest Service suggests 2 to 3 inches of mulch out to the drip line, or as wide as you can. See the 3-3-3 mulch ring.
Don’t Do
- Don’t paint or wrap wounds. Nebraska Extension says no wound dressing, pruning paint or trunk wrap.
- Don’t fertilize to help it recover. Nebraska Extension says fertilizer can push leafy growth at the expense of roots and wound closure.
- Don’t make big removal or heavy pruning decisions right away. Nebraska Forest Service says to give trees time to show how they’re responding.
- Don’t climb or use a chainsaw up high. Nebraska Extension says a certified arborist should handle large branches and work in tall trees.
Keep, Restake or Remove?
Nebraska Extension’s guidance:
| Situation | Usual call |
|---|---|
| Shredded leaves, small branches broken | Clean up and wait. It will likely leaf out again. |
| Young tree, planted less than about 4 years ago, pushed over | May survive if straightened and staked |
| Mature tree leaning after the storm | Usually remove and replace |
| Trunk split down the middle | Have a professional remove it |
| Branches tangled in electric lines | Call the utility. Don’t touch it. |
Ash trees need extra thought now that emerald ash borer is in Bismarck. Ash wood can’t leave Burleigh County under the state quarantine. See should you treat or remove your ash tree.
CITY TREE CARE
Boulevard Trees Are the City’s
Trees on the boulevard, the strip between the sidewalk and the street, belong to the City of Bismarck. If one is damaged or a limb is hanging over the street or walk, report it to Bismarck Forestry at 701-355-1700, option 3, or use the city’s Report a Concern form. Don’t prune or remove a boulevard tree without a city permit. See boulevard tree permits in Bismarck.
LOCAL DISPOSAL
Getting Rid of Branches in Bismarck
After big storms, the city usually announces special cleanup options. After the August 3, 2026 storm, Bismarck Public Works offered:
After the June 2025 storm, the city asked people to cut branches into lengths one person can handle, keep carts 4 feet from the pile, park 10 feet away, skip the alley and never put branches in the street, where they block storm drains.
Normal times: the city’s grass and leaf sites don’t take branches. Branches go to the Bismarck Landfill, where clean wood costs $40 a ton. Programs change after each storm, so watch the city’s news alerts before you haul.
LAWN AND GARDEN RECOVERY
Lawns, Beds and Gardens After Hail
HIRING SAFELY
Hiring Help Without Getting Burned
Storms bring out-of-town crews. The North Dakota Insurance Department warns that “dishonest contractors often show up from out of state.” Protect yourself:
Questions
Storm and Hail Recovery FAQ
Answers about hail damage, storm cleanup and safe recovery in Bismarck.
Need help after a storm?
Call about yard cleanup and a recovery plan.
What should I do with my yard after a hailstorm?
Stay away from downed lines, take photos before cleanup, and remove loose or hanging branches safely. Then water and wait. Don’t paint tree wounds or fertilize to help recovery. Most trees, shrubs and lawns grow back from hail damage.
Will my trees recover from hail damage?
Most healthy trees will. Nebraska Forest Service says healthy trees usually grow new leaves after hail. The bigger risk is bark wounds, which can let in decay. Water in dry spells, mulch the root zone and give the tree time before deciding on removal.
Should I fertilize trees after a storm?
No. Nebraska Extension says not to automatically fertilize trees and shrubs to help them recover. Fertilizer can push leafy growth at the expense of root growth and wound closure. Water and mulch instead.
Will my lawn come back after hail?
Usually. Hail mostly shreds grass blades rather than the crowns, where new growth starts. Nebraska Extension notes lawns are only occasionally damaged when hail strikes the crowns. Overseed thin spots between August 15 and September 15.
Where can I take storm branches in Bismarck?
Normally, branches go to the Bismarck Landfill, since the city’s grass sites don’t take them. After big storms, the city often adds options. After the August 3, 2026 storm, it offered no-charge landfill drop-off, boulevard pickup and roll-off dumpsters for branches under 4 inches. Watch city news alerts after each storm.
Does homeowners insurance cover fallen trees?
It depends on the policy. Generally, damage to your house or other structures from a fallen tree is covered, and many policies pay a limited amount, often $500 to $1,000, to remove it. Damage to trees themselves from wind is generally not covered. Call your insurer or the North Dakota Insurance Department at (701) 328-2440.
Who can do tree work after a storm in Bismarck?
Anyone doing commercial tree pruning or removal in Bismarck must have a city Commercial Arborist License, which requires ISA certification or a City Forester certificate and liability insurance. The city posts a list of licensed arborists. Don’t hire unlicensed crews that knock on doors after storms.
Bismarck Landscape
Need Help Cleaning Up?
We’ll help clear broken limbs and debris, check your lawn and beds, and set up a recovery plan. For tree work, we’ll point you to a licensed arborist when that’s what the job needs. Call Bismarck Landscape at (701) 299-0740.
See our contact options. For seasonal cleanup, see fall and spring yard cleanup.