We all agree that trees are wonderful! They provide shade, improve your property’s curb appeal, keep air and water clean, increase your home’s value, hold soil in place and offer so much more in terms of benefits to humans and other living things.
However, there are times when they also pose a threat to things and people around them. Dead or diseased trees are prone to breakage and may cause accidents around your property. This is the main reason we get called to help remove a tree from a property before it falls on someone or something.
Did you know that some living trees can also be a hazard? Here are ways to tell if a tree in your lawn or backyard can potentially cause an issue:
- Are there dead limbs? Dead branches are an accident waiting to happen. They can fall off anytime — when a child climbs the tree or even with just a slight breeze.
- Is there more than 50% damage on the tree? Tree damage can be caused by many things. It can be construction-related, storm-related or disease-related. The best thing to do as soon as you notice damage to a tree is to check if it can still survive.
- Is the tree split? While forked trunks happen naturally, trees that are split with one side growing outward instead of upwards can be dangerous. Narrow-angled forks are also prone to infection. Get it checked by an arborist. The tree might still be saved with proper pruning and bracing.
- Is the tree leaning? A sudden lean indicates breakage or weakening of the roots and the tree needs to be removed immediately. A tree that has grown off-center is generally not considered a risk. A good indicator of whether or not the tree is a hazard due to leaning is if it is 15% from vertical.
- Are there signs of root decay? Check if mushrooms, conks and brackets are growing on the root flares. Weakened or decayed roots may cause the tree to topple over and fall on something or someone.
- Are there issues with power lines? If any of the branches are crossing or touching power lines, it is time to call the utility company. Trees can be grown under power lines as long as the height is less than 25’ at maturity. It should also be regularly thinned out. During wet weather, electricity can arc as much as 10 feet to wet foliage and ground out causing property damage.
- Does it interfere with sight lines, traffic flow or stoplights?
There are also instances when pruning is enough to save a tree or to prevent it from becoming a hazard. For instance, branches that cross or rub lead to weak spots. While the entire tree can still remain, the cross branches need to be pruned off.
If you have questions about tree health and safety issues, it is best to consult certified arborists like A1 Sure Services for 24 Hour Emergency Tree Removals