How to Prevent Tree Hazards

Trees are beautiful and beneficial to any property. They provide shade, add beauty and value to the property, and provide a peaceful respite from daily life. However, trees can also be dangerous if they fall or fail.

Several hazards may result from tree failure:

• Falling limbs or branches
• Injury to people or pets
• Property damage
• Fire damage
• Trees can cause damage to any part of your home or property, including roofs, windows, and siding. Trees may also catch fire if lightning strikes or are set ablaze by fire spread from nearby structures.

Tree Concerns

Some tree issues can be corrected with proper care and maintenance. The first step to preventing tree hazards is to know what you are looking for.

Mushrooms and Fungus

Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of certain fungi that grow on trees. They can appear anywhere on a tree, including its trunk, branches, or leaves. They're usually brown or white, with a stem and cap, and the stems may be short or long and fibrous.

Fungus is also standard on trees. It's a plant disease caused by microscopic organisms such as molds and yeasts that feed on decaying matter. Fungal infections can cause spots on leaves or stems or spread throughout the plant, causing large areas of dead tissue. Some fungi attack trees when stressed by environmental factors like drought, insects, or disease. Others attack healthy plants through open wounds in the bark caused by pruning or broken branches.

Lifting Soil or Roots

If you notice that the roots of your tree are coming out of the ground and lifting the soil, this may be an indication that your tree needs more water or fertilizer. It might also be a sign of root rot which can cause further damage to your tree's health and stability. If there is no noticeable damage to the trunk, it may only be an issue with the roots.

Sawdust or Bark Shed

When a tree sheds its bark or sawdust-like material, it could mean something wrong with your tree's health. This could be due to disease or pests like beetles or mites eating away at the bark or wood inside the tree's trunk. It could also mean that there were some issues during pruning that caused this damage to occur.

Large Cavities

Large cavities are holes in the trunk of a tree that are greater than one inch in diameter. Large cavities can be caused by decay, fungi, insects, or disease, and they may also be caused by impact from vehicles, lawn mowers, and other machinery. Large cavities can weaken the tree's structure and make it more susceptible to failure during storms or high winds.

Nesting Cavities

Nesting cavities are holes that have been enlarged by small animals such as squirrels or raccoons. These animals will enlarge these holes for shelter or food storage purposes. While nesting cavities do not threaten the tree's health, they may allow for entry points for insects and diseases, which can lead to other problems for your trees.

Tree Limb Union

The connection between two limbs is referred to as a union. Tree limb unions that are split, cracked, or sunken should be evaluated by a professional arborist who can determine if they need to be repaired immediately or if they can wait until spring when there is less risk of further damage occurring with high winds and rainstorms.

Leaning Trees

A tree leaning toward your house could be damaged by wind or snow or topple over during a storm. If the leaning tree is large enough that it might cause damage to your home if it falls, you should call in an arborist or other tree expert to evaluate the situation and provide advice on what action to take.

Branch Health

If your tree has unhealthy branches that could snap off in high winds or storms, trim them off, so they don't become hazards later. Ensure you cut away from anything else around the tree so no debris will fall on someone below.

Leaf Health

Tree leaves provide shade and beauty — but they also block sunlight from reaching the plants below them. If leaves on your trees have dropped from higher up, rake them out of the way so plant growth can continue below the canopy level of the trees.

Assessment By Professional Tree Company

If your tree is damaged or diseased, hire a professional from Driscoll Tree Service. We are trained to identify whether a tree is damaged and what treatment options are available. Our professional tree services and tree care company can guide you to your specific tree concerns.