While not all hazards are obvious, there are some things to look out for when it comes to detecting and preventing a hazardous tree.
Trees provide us with a wide variety of benefits, including shade, beauty, oxygen, and more. However, it’s easy to forget that trees are living creatures that can get sick, injured, and die over time. In these situations, trees can become especially hazardous that can hurt people and property below. That’s why Mountain West Arbor Care would like to provide you with the following Boise tree care guide to spotting a dangerous tree.
What Causes Tree Failure?
A hazardous tree is a tree with significant defects that can cause it to hurt or damage people and property below. While some failures are unpredictable, most can be prevented by properly inspecting the trees on your property. This is especially true after extreme weather and heavy snowfall. Keep in mind that large, mature trees are more susceptible to failure than smaller trees after storms. That’s why it’s important to keep an eye out for the following:
- Health
- Defects
- Improper Pruning
- Location
Health
The structure of a tree can provide you with many clues about its overall health. Things to look out for include yellow or brown leaves, foliage density, fungi, and how a tree compares to others nearby. Thin foliage, dead branches, and mushrooms are all serious signs of a hazardous tree.
Defects
It’s also important to inspect a tree for any signs of defects. Defects like dead branches can break and fall at any time, making them especially hazardous. Cracks or splits in a tree’s trunk can also indicate a high potential for failure. Furthermore, any mushrooms at the base of a tree can be evidence of a defective root system.
Improper Pruning
Although it may seem like a simple task you can do yourself, improper pruning can result in decay, infestation, disease, and tree death. Furthermore, DIY pruning can be a dangerous task that can lead to serious injuries, property damage, and fatalities. While it may be tempting to want to save a few bucks, cheap is never the way to go when it comes to preventative tree care. Improper pruning is a common mistake that often leaves trees permanently damaged, susceptible to disease, storm damage, or even death.
Location
Construction and lawn equipment can damage the trunk or root zone of a tree. Significantly damaged, these areas will affect the overall structural integrity of a tree. The location of a tree will also impact its health and longevity. That’s why it’s important never to plant a tree close to buildings or beneath power lines. As a tree grows, it can uproot the foundation of your home, damage siding, windows, and roofing, or tangle with power lines, making it especially hazardous.
Spot the Signs
Below are some strong indicators of tree failure. If you spot any of these signs, it’s important to contact the certified arborist at Mountain West Arbor Care.
- A tree that develops a sudden lean.
- A sparse, unbalanced canopy.
- Dead branches.
- Trunk cracks, cavities, or decayed areas.
- Multiple trunks.
- Buckling, cracking, or heaving soil.
- Fungi growing at the base of a tree.
Boise Tree Care
Prevention is the best solution. By maintaining the trees on your property, the less likely they will become hazardous over time. At Mountain West Arbor Care, our certified arborist can assess the health and integrity of your trees to determine the need for any of our Boise tree care services. Contact us by filling out our online form or give us a call at 1.800.767.8733 for a no-cost, no-obligation quote.
