Tree Risk Inspection
Let’s face it, living with trees will always come with some amount of risk. Fortunately, a certified arborist who is trained in tree risk evaluation can often see tree related damages before they start! In addition to pointing out high risk trees our arborists’ risk inspections often find that trees are safe allowing property owners to keep their trees with peace of mind. Don’t be fooled by an untrained tree cutter who tells you your tree is sick as they may just be looking to scare you into cutting down a perfectly good tree!
Are your trees safe?
Many people think that trees fail as a result of storms but in fact most trees that experience storm damage contained one or more existing problems before the storm comes along for a final blow!
To the untrained eye most trees look the same until their health is severely diminished or worse, a limb falls off landing on the roof. A short visit with one of our certified arborists can help you determine if your trees are safe and what you can do to protect your property from tree related damage.
Most tree failure is preventable!
- Most tree branch and trunk failures occur once disease or decay has caused significant reduction in strength. Often a certified arborist who is trained in tree risk assessment by the ISA can see problem areas in your trees well before they become the cause of an accident or damage your home.
- Trees with undisturbed healthy root systems have plenty of anchoring strength to withstand strong winds. Root damage is often detectable and an early tree risk inspection can provide you with the warning you need to take action before it’s too late.
- The urban environment can be harsh for trees especially in neighborhoods built around existing trees. A tree risk inspection will also point out factors that may lead your healthy trees to become dangerous over time. Sometimes making small changes can prevent trees from becoming stressed in the first place so you never have to deal with the costly after effects of an unhealthy tree.
Common causes of tree risk in urban environments:
- Improper pruning is the single largest cause of tree risk and limb failure in urban environments. Practices such as lions tailing, stripping out foliage and yearly heavy thinning to avoid hurricane damage can cause trees to become high risk in a matter of just a few years!
- Grade changes around trees such as during construcion or landscaping installation.
- Installation of pipes or sprinkler lines under the canopy of a tree.
- Building of houses around trees, especially when a previous smaller house is demolished and a new larger home is built.
- Poor drainage or changes in drainage leading to constantly moist areas in soil. Even if soil is just a little bit wet but stays that way for much of the time tree roots can become suffocated and susceptible to decay.
- Swimming pool construction near a tree.
