Recognizing Tree Hazards |
Trees provide significant benefits to our homes
and cities, but when trees fall and injure people
or damage property, they are liabilities. Taking
care of tree
hazards makes your property safer and
prolongs the life of the tree.
Trees are an important part of our world. They
offer a wide range of benefits to the environment
and provide tremendous beauty. However, trees
may be dangerous. Trees or parts of trees may
fall and cause injury to people or damage to
property. We call trees in such situations hazardous,
to signify the risk involved with their presence.
While every tree has the potential to fall,
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 brochure 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. 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.
Hazardous Trees 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.
Tree Hazard Checklist
Consider these questions when evaluating your
trees:
- 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 in major branches?
- Are mushrooms present at the base of the
tree?
- Are there cracks or splits in the trunk
or where branches are attached?
- Have any branches fallen from the tree?
- Have adjacent trees fallen over or died?
- Has the trunk developed a strong lean?
- Do many of the major branches arise from
one point on the trunk?
- Have the roots been broken off, injured,
or damaged by lowering the soil level, installing
pavement, repairing sidewalks, or digging
trenches?
- Has the site recently been changed by construction,
raising the soil level, or installing lawns?
- Have the leaves prematurely developed an
unusual color or size?
- Have trees in adjacent wooded areas been
removed?
- Has the tree been topped or otherwise heavily
pruned?
Call 770-256-4599 today or click
here to =>
schedule a free tree services estimate.
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