Identifying Tree Hazards
Boca Raton Trees provide significant benefits to our homes and cities. However, when trees fail, people can be injured or property damaged, and this makes them a potential liability. Taking care of tree hazards makes your property safer and prolongs the life of the tree.
Trees offer a wide range of benefits to the environment at large and provide tremendous aesthetic beauty while doing it. When trees become weakened and potentially more dangerous as a result, we term those trees as hazardous. This is to signify the risk involved with their presence. While every tree has the potential to fail, only a small number actually hit something or someone.
It is an owner’s responsibility to provide for the safety of trees on his or her property. This page provides some tips for identifying the common defects associated with tree hazards. However, evaluating the seriousness of these defects is best done by a professional arborist. Regular tree care will help identify hazardous trees and the risk they present. Once the hazard is recognized, steps may be taken to reduce the likelihood of the tree falling and injuring someone.
If you have a tree that you believe needs an evaluation by an arborist, contact Boca Raton Tree and we will schedule an assessment for you.
Hazardous Tree and Utility Lines
Trees that fall into utility lines have additional serious consequences. Not only can they injure people or property near the line, but hitting a line may cause power outages, surges, fires, and other damage. Downed lines still conducting electricity are especially dangerous. A tree with a potential to fall into a utility line is a very serious situation.
Are there large dead branches in the tree?
Are there detached branches hanging in the tree?
Does the tree have cavities or rotten wood along the trunk or major branches?
Are mushroom type growths present at the base of the tree or along the truck and larger branches?
Are there cracks or splits in the trunk or where branches attach to the tree?
Have any major branches fallen from the tree?
Have adjacent tree fallen, lost major branches or died?
Has the trunk developed a strong lean?
Do many of the major branches arise from one point of the trunk?
Have the roots been broken off, injured, or damaged by lowering soil level, pavement installation, sidewalk repairs, or trench digging?
Has the site recently been changed by construction, raising the soil level, or lawn installation?
Have the leaves prematurely developed an unusual color or size?
Have adjacent wood areas been removed or cleared?
Has the tree been topped or otherwise heavily pruned?
If you believe any of the above signs exist on a tree near you or someone you know, contact us at Boca Raton Tree by calling (561) 922-3095 or Click Here to contact us through our website.
Defects in Urban Trees
The following are defects or signs of possible defects in urban trees:
- Re-growth from topping, line clearing or other excessive pruning.
- Broken or partially attached branch.
- Open cavity in trunk or branch.
- Dead or dying branches.
- Branches arising from a single point on the trunk.
- Decay and rot present in old wounds.
- Recent change in grade or soil level, or other construction related issues.
Defects in Rural Trees
The following are defects or signs of possible defects in rural trees:
- Recent site construction, grading, and tree removal, or clearing of forest for development.
- Previous tree failures in the local area.
- Tree leaning near targets.
- Forked trunk, branches or co-dominant stems equal in size.
- Wet areas with shallow soil around trees.
Managing Tree Hazards
Boca Raton Tree Service can help you manage the trees on your property and can provide treatments that may help make your tree safer, reducing the risk associated with hazardous trees. Being familiar with hazard tree evaluation we may suggest one or more of the following:
- Remove the target. While a home or a nearby power line cannot be moved, it is possible to move picnic tables, cars, landscape features, or other possible targets to prevent them from being hit by a falling tree.
- Prune the tree. Remove the defective branches of the tree. Because inappropriate pruning may weaken a tree.
- Cable and brace the tree. Provide physical support for weak branches and stems to increase their strength and stability.
- Provide routine care. Mature trees need routine care in the form of water, fertilizer (in some cases), mulch, and pruning as dictated by the season and their structure.
- Remove the tree. Some hazardous trees are best removed. If possible, plant a new tree in an appropriate place as a replacement.
Recognizing and reducing tree hazards not only increases the safety of your property and that of your neighbors but also improve the tree’s health and may increase its longevity!
Trees are assets to your home and community and deserve the best possible care. If you answered “yes” to any of the questions in the tree hazard checklist or see any of the defects contained in the illustrations, Please call us at (561) 922-3095 or use our contact page and we will get in touch with you soon.
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Boca Raton Tree Services
Serving Boca Raton with high quality tree services for more than 10 years. Our services include tree trimming, tree removal, tree installation, hedge trimming, stump grinding and debris hauling.
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