The first way to stop trees from ruining your roof and allowing water to seep inside is to maintain the trees around your home. Dangling and overhanging trees, especially older ones, can lead to a leaking roof by damaging shingles, flashing, and gutters. Cut back any branches too close to your home, or even better, call a professional to do it for you, especially if the branches are hard to reach. 

Another way to reduce the risk of tree damage is to maintain your gutters. Leaves, sticks, moss, and other debris can build up over time, or in just one day during heavy storms. Clogged gutters cause water leaks inside your home, because trapped water rots the wooden fascia boards your gutters are mounted to. When this occurs, moisture will enter your property, which means repairs to your roof and interior. 

The same blocked rain gutters can also cause problems during the winter months. Ice dams can send snow melt underneath your shingles, again penetrating your home and causing untold damage. The solution to these rain gutter problems is to clear any blockages regularly, ideally with professional help if your gutters are hard to reach.

If allowed to build up on the roof itself, the same plant matter can rot your shingles and again allow water to enter the home. As before, a professional roof inspection can identify this issue before it becomes a costly problem.