How to Recognize and Prevent Tree Hazards

Tree Service in Dayton, MD

Trees make wonderful additions to the landscapes of our homes and businesses. They bud beautiful flowers, change colors with the seasons and remind us of life and our connection to nature. However beautiful, though, trees are also susceptible to damage and can become very dangerous.

Falling tree limbs or entire trunks can cause severe damage or bodily harm to people, your property or objects like cars. If you have a tree in your yard or business landscape, you should know how to spot the signs of tree hazards so a tree service in Dayton, MD can come take care of it right away. Keep your friends, family, employees and property safe from hazardous trees by using these tips.

Inspection is important

Most people don’t think to have their tree inspected until something is wrong with it, but that leaves the door open for potential problems to go unnoticed. We recommend you have your trees inspected at least once per year to identify problems immediately and prevent hazardous trees from causing damage.

You can inspect your tree on your own, but you should call a tree professional if you think something is amiss.

Age

First and foremost, it’s important to realize that older trees are more susceptible to failure because they have likely incurred more decay and damage from storms and other incidents.

Trees have a lifespan, and while they are often very long, the older the tree is, the more likely it will be to become hazardous. If you do not know the approximate age of the tree, hire a tree service in Dayton, MD to inspect the tree and identify its age and potential hazards.

Trunks

During your inspection, observe the trunk of the tree and look for signs of decay and wounds. Fungi can cause your tree to decay and weaken the trunk, which can cause trunk cracking and complete breakage over time. You might be able to spot fungi and decay on the exterior of the tree trunk, but often, interior decay goes unnoticed. Look for cracks, seams and old wounds, which are all indicative of interior trunk decay.

Wounds on the tree trunk can heal over time, but particularly large wounds take more time to heal or may not heal at all, putting your tree at risk. Particularly during heavy storms or winds, trees with wounds tend to break and fall onto structures or vehicles.

Crown

The crown of the tree is the top where the branches expand widely. The health of the crown can help you determine whether your tree is hazardous or not. Look for signs of dieback toward the very top of the tree; if more than 50 percent of the crown is dead, the tree is severely weakened and may need to be removed.

Also, check the crown for lopsidedness. If the tree is leaning slightly to one side, it’s generally okay, but severe lopsidedness may cause hazards to people and your property. Leaning trees are more likely to fall over, especially in high winds.

Roots

Finally, inspect the roots of your tree and look for potential damage or fungus growth. If roots are damaged, the health of your tree suffers and it’s more likely to become hazardous. If the roots are largely above ground, the tree may become unstable and fall over.

Take care of tree hazards fast

If you spot any potential signs of tree damage, you should call a tree service in Dayton, MD as soon as possible. Have them inspect the tree and give you their opinion on what you should do to prevent the tree from becoming a hazard.

Stabler Tree & Crane Services has over 30 years of experience providing tree services to residential and commercial clients. We can meet all of your tree and stump needs, from tree removal, trimming and pruning to stump grinding and more! Call today for a free estimate.

Posted in Tree Service