Dead or rotting trees can pose a safety hazard to anyone and anything in close proximity. This includes homes, roads, businesses, and neighbourhoods. Falling branches also have the potential to cause quite a bit of damage to anything they may fall on. Learning to identify whether a tree is a safety hazard or not can be helpful to the community and should be common knowledge.
Whether at home or work, knowing how to spot a dangerous tree can prove to be valuable. You might even save a life!
Here’s what you should know:
Common Misconceptions
When a tree falls down in a yard, homeowners often say that there were no issues and they didn’t see any signs. However, even when all looks fine and the tree seems healthy, there are many less obvious indications that a tree can be dangerous. Homeowners should know how to pick these things out.
Extreme weather such as excessive rainfall, strong winds, and ice storms can put a considerable amount of pressure on your trees and cause them to fall or snap. However, homeowners can take steps to make sure that their trees are healthy. Trees can be unpredictable, so it’s good to know how to keep them flourishing while being able to see early signs of anything that could be hazardous.
If you are not sure about certain signs and symptoms that you might be seeing on a tree, you might want to call in a professional for assistance and even ask yourself these 4 questions before you start cutting down your tree. Tree removal service professionals know their trees and can help identify whether or not removal is really needed. If removal is deemed necessary, they will be able to take care of that task for you as well.
General Inspection
Start by taking a good look at how the tree looks overall. If there are any basic signs of rot, any hanging branches, premature dropping leaves, dead wood, and changes on only a particular section of your tree, you should probably call someone in to help you inspect it so they can recommend a solution for whatever issue it is that you are having.
Ground and Root Inspection
From above the ground, you can see the cusp of the root system, which can tell you a lot about the tree’s health. The anchoring roots that support the tree are usually the most visible whereas a tree’s absorbing roots will be underground, providing the tree with the water and nutrients absorbed from the soil. If you see any signs of rotting or decay in the trees anchoring roots, this can be a big issue. Even if the rest of the tree looks fine, rotting roots will be dangerous as it means that the foundation is weak and the tree is prone to falling at any time.
While you’re inspecting the roots, take a look at the surrounding ground as well as they can be valuable indicators. If you see any raised soil or cracks in the ground, this might indicate disturbances in the roots. Keep an eye out for fungal growth as well because this is a big sign of rot. Mushrooms and fungus near the roots is a telltale sign that decay is present.
Trunk Inspection
Trunks hold up the massive weight of a tree’s branches and act as its main support. You will want to inspect the trunk to see whether or not there is something wrong with a tree. Major cracks and cavities in a trunk can mean that it is at risk of breaking or splitting. Take note of where the cavities are located. If the bark is falling apart on specific spots, this may be a sign of death or a fungal attack.
Trees can be valuable assets to residential and commercial properties alike. That said, they can also pose major hazards. Learn how to spot the signs of a hazardous tree today so you can protect yourself and those around you from injury!
If one of the trees in your yard is well past its prime and needs to be removed, get in touch with King King Tree Services. We service the Central Coast of New South Wales and will be more than happy to give you a hand!