Much in the same way that your car has ways of letting you know, it’s in need of a little proper maintenance and care, the trees which shade and protect your home have signs which we can interpret to keep them healthy and thriving for years to come.
To determine exactly what your tree is trying to communicate, it’s vital that homeowners inspect their trees annually, with springtime being the perfect time of year to do so. This inspection will help to ensure that your trees are beautiful statements on your property, rather than giant safety hazards.
So, what, exactly, should homeowners be looking for during their annual spring tree check-ups? Follow these tree safety and health tips to best identify your tree problems, and follow-up with effective solutions.
Determine a Tree’s Risk versus Reward
Your property and its landscape may mean a lot more than simply maintaining an appealing appearance. Trees in your yard have stood the test of time, and have been around to witness some of the most important events of your life. But regardless of their sentimental value, trees can also pose a greater risk than reward. Trees that create severe safety or structural concerns are a risk to your property and your home.
The choice to either keep or remove a hazardous tree is ultimately up to the owner of the property themselves. This choice may also be dependent on the sort of property the tree is located on, and if keeping the damaged tree is a risk to the safety of the general public. Property owners in charge of public or residential areas may have a higher concern for public safety as compared to homeowners, as homeowners don’t necessarily require a large amount of traffic through their property. But for homeowners, the decision to remove a tree may also be conflicted with sentimental or historic values.
If you find yourself with a tree that you think may be posing a risk to your safety or your property, contact a professionally trained arborist. These experts can help home or property owners to determine the risk level of keeping the tree in question. Through reporting the acceptable risk levels of the trees they observe, arborists can help property owners to make a sound decision based on their findings.
If a tree poses a risk, but is still thriving and healthy, try and lower the risk as much as possible by moving people or other objects surrounding the tree, or create a barrier that keeps people a safe distance away.
Discuss the Stability of a Tree
Trees are living organisms and can be viewed as either an asset to your property or a liability. The way that home or property owners choose to inspect their trees can make all of the difference to its health, and the safety of the property.
When it’s time to thoroughly inspect your tree, start from the base of the trunk and move upwards, being careful to take note of damage along the way. Take notes of what you see, and report your findings to an arborist if you feel as though the tree is severely damaged or is unsafe.
A structurally sound tree can be treated quite easily with the help of a professional arborist, or by yourself, if the problem is small enough. When you come across a dead branch, prune it to maintain the tree’s vitality and stability. Braces or cables can be installed around the tree as added support. As you make your way up the tree during your inspection, assess the decay around the trunk, as the severity of the decay is a predictor of whether the crown will die off soon.
At Jackson Tree Service, we’ve been helping home, and property owners maintain luscious and healthy trees for over 50 years. If you have questions about the stability of your tree or require help in assessing the trees on your property, contact us and schedule your appointment today!