SOMERVILLE, NJ, August 12, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Wayne's Tree Service, a family-operated tree service company based in Somerville, New Jersey, is encouraging homeowners across Somerset, Hunterdon, Middlesex, and Union counties in its service areas to have mature trees assessed before the height of storm season.

The recommendation follows a difficult month for the region's canopy. On July 4, severe thunderstorms with gusts near 70 miles per hour cut power to roughly 249,000 New Jersey customers, and the National Weather Service logged numerous reports of downed trees in Hunterdon and Somerset counties. On July 21, the agency confirmed four tornadoes elsewhere in the state.

"Most of the trees our crews removed in July were already compromised before the wind ever arrived," said Peter A hlert, owner of Wayne's Tree Service and a veteran. "Storms rarely take a healthy tree. They find the weak one."

The company says several warning signs are visible from the ground: soil lifting or cracking at the base of a trunk, which can signal root plate movement; two trunks joined in a narrow V-shape, a frequent failure point in mature maples and oaks; dead limbs suspended over roofs, driveways, or play areas; fungal growth at the root flare; and a canopy that has thinned noticeably since last summer.

Wayne's Tree Service also reminds property owners that tree removal is regulated at the municipal level in New Jersey. Most Central Jersey towns now require a permit to remove trees above a set trunk diameter, though hazardous trees are frequently exempt with documentation. Homeowners are encouraged to confirm local rules before scheduling work.

The company offers free estimates and operates a 24-hour line for storm emergencies at (732) 805-0609.

Founded in 1993, Wayne's Tree Service is a family-operated, veteran-owned and operated company providing tree removal, pruning and trimming, stump grinding, land clearing, tree and shrub planting, and 24/7 emergency storm response across Somerset, Hunterdon, Middlesex, and Union counties. The company is fully licensed and insured and holds NJ Licensed Tree Care Operator No. 565 and NJ Tree Expert No. 806860.

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