Homeowners and business owners spend thousands of dollars each year repairing property and vehicles, or paying medical bills, due to damage and injury caused by falling trees. Large trees and tree branches can cause massive damage to structures, cars and people if they aren’t properly taken care of.
In order to prevent damage caused by falling trees, it’s important to be proactive about identifying and removing hazardous trees on your property. Whether the tree is very old, has a disease or was damaged by a storm, you should be aware of the signs and call for dangerous tree removal if you think it poses a threat to people and objects. Here are some signs of hazardous trees to look for:
- Old age: Trees can live for a very long time, but they do have a lifespan, and they become a much higher risk the older they get. While many old trees are perfectly healthy, old trees are also more susceptible to damage and diseases. If you know that the tree on your property is very old, inspect it more thoroughly or hire an arborist to make sure it is in healthy condition.
- Fungi and decay: Fungi can weaken your tree by causing decay and structural damage to the trunk. While it is easy to spot fungi when it’s growing on the trunk, signs of decay may not always be present on the exterior of the tree. Interior decay is much more common and harder to identify. Look for cracks or old wounds that haven’t healed; these are usually indicative of internal decay.
- Large wounds: The trunk of your tree can take a beating, but very large wounds caused by lightning, collision or other severe impacts might take a long time or may never truly heal. Wounds can weaken the tree, making it more dangerous. These types of wounds also open the door for pests that carry diseases.
- Broken crown: The crown of your tree is where the branches spread out near the top. A tree’s crown can be an indicator of your tree’s overall health, because branches tend to die top-down. Inspect the crown for dieback. A general rule is if more than 50 percent of the crown is dead or damaged, the tree’s health is at serious risk and the tree may need to be removed.
- Leaning trees: Lopsided trees can be some of the most dangerous because they are already leaning, which increases their chances of falling over and causing damage. High winds can cause trees to be lopsided, which is usually okay to a degree. However, severely leaning trees should be inspected by a professional and might need to be removed.
- Exposed or damaged roots: If the roots of your tree are exposed rather than covered underground, there is a greater chance that the tree can topple because it lacks an adequate support system to hold it in place. Also, check your roots for other signs of damage or fungus growth, as these can compromise the health of the entire tree.
If you spot signs of hazardous trees on your property and require the help of a professional for dangerous tree removal, call Allan’s Tree Service. We’ve assisted residential, commercial and industrial clients with tree services for 15 years. Call today for a free estimate!
Categorised in: Dangerous Tree Removal
This post was written by Allan's