Trees are beautiful creatures that provide shade and protection from the wind while keeping us cool. However, it’s easy to forget that large, mature trees can become dangerous over time. Hazardous trees such as these can cause serious property damage and injury to people. Even worse, not all the signs of a hazardous tree are obvious. As a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to keep your home and property safe from tree failure.
That’s why Mountain West Arbor Care would like to provide you with the following Salt Lake City tree care tips for detecting and preventing a hazardous tree.
What Causes a Dangerous Tree?
A hazardous tree is one that has a significant structural defect that can cause it or a portion of it to fall to the ground below. Even more, hazardous trees are extremely unpredictable. However, hazardous trees can be prevented with regular inspections. This is especially true after extreme weather and heavy snowfall. During an inspection, it’s important to look out for the following:
- Overall health
- Visual defects
- Improper pruning
- Environment
Overall Health
The overall health of the trees on your property can indicate structural problems. Things to look for include foliage discoloration, density, infection, and vigor. Are a tree’s leaves brown? Are there bare spots? How does a tree look compared to other nearby trees? Dead branches, thinning or brown leaves, and fungus are all warning signs of a hazardous tree.
Visual Defects
Take the time to inspect your tree and look for any visual defects from the crown to the roots. Obvious signs of a hazardous tree include the presence of deadwood. Dead branches are also known as “widow makers,” and are extremely dangerous because they can fall unexpectedly at any given time with disastrous results.
Other signs to look out for include cracks or splits in the trunk of a tree or a tree with multiple trunks. These types of trees have a high potential for failure and require a professional assessment from a certified arborist to ensure their safety. Fungi and mushrooms growing at the base of trees can also indicate potential failure.
Improper Pruning
Trees that are improperly pruned or lack maintenance can lead to failure. Improper pruning also includes topping, which can weaken a tree and cause it to become extremely hazardous over time.
Environment
The area around a tree can cause it to become hazardous. This includes construction or trenching near a tree’s root zone. When the roots of a tree become damaged, they lose their structural support. Even more, large trees located too close to buildings or power lines can become especially hazardous.
Signs Of Tree Failure
Below are some obvious signs of tree failure. If you spot any of these warning signs, it’s important to contact a Salt Lake City tree care professional as soon as possible.
- A sudden or gradual lean.
- A sparse, unbalanced canopy that has dead branches.
- Cracks, cavities or decayed areas of a trunk.
- Multiple trunks.
- Buckling, cracking or heaving soil at the base of a tree.
- Fungi or mushrooms.
Salt Lake City Tree Care
Sometimes a hazardous tree shows minimal warning signs. However, the certified arborist at Mountain West Arbor Care can help determine a tree’s hazard potential. Since prevention is the best solution, contact us today by filling out our online form or give us a call at 1.800.767.8733 for a no-cost, no-obligation quote for any of our Salt Lake City tree care services.
