4 STEPS TO ID HAZARDOUS TREES

Protect your property: 4 steps to identify hazardous trees

Our estimators assess the property and
decide to use a crane to remove this fallen tree
in Wake Forest, NC

March 17, 2014--Raleigh, NC--A week after that terrible ice storm and we are still busy cleaning up. For the unfortunate homeowners whose trees fell upon their houses, now begins the often tedious process of paying for the repairs through their insurance companies. The cost of removing trees that have fallen on the roof of a house, driveway, or sidewalk is usually covered by homeowners insurance.  A+ Tree & Crane Services is familiar with handing these cases, and we can help expedite the process by getting you in touch with our contacts and completing paperwork for your insurance company. More importantly, we try to stop these problems from occurring in the first place.

Many cases of fallen trees are ‘freak accidents,’ meaning that an otherwise healthy tree snapped under the weight of built-up ice. This is especially common for pine trees, which have a naturally softer, malleable wood compared to sturdy oaks and maples. In other cases, trees weakened by disease or previous damages are likely to fall in extreme weather. The good news, however, is that these disasters can be preventable by simple stroll around the yard. With the rainy quickly approaching, here are some tips so that you can protect your property from damage.

1. Take a walk around your property looking for obvious damage or disease. Starting at the base of the tree, search the surrounding ground for exposed roots and noticeable holes in the soil under the trunk. It is normal for some species to have roots above the soil level, but too much exposure lets in moisture and pests. Check for root damage and ‘root rot.’ With the edge of your shoe, scrape the base of the tree and any roots. If the texture is soft and easily breaks off, then the root system is decaying, and the tree must be removed immediately. Examine the bark of the trunk, looking for small holes and termite damage, sap-like build-up, or rotting. These are red flags indicating that the interior of the trunk has started to deteriorate. Travel further up the tree towards the largest limbs, ensuring that the integrity of these branches do not show signs of disease. Make note of the smaller, extending branches. If the ends of any of these limbs have snapped off, then there is a good chance that the tree is damaged.

2. Consider the structure of the larger trees in your yard. If the otherwise healthy tree seems to lean to one side, or one side of the tree supports most or all of the weight, consider trimming the heavier branches to redistribute the weight. We do not advise removing large portions of the tree because it will ultimately kill the tree. This practice known as ‘tree topping’ results in the tree being removed altogether down the road.

3. Examine the location of your trees in regards to the gradient of your yard and proximity to structures. Trees growing on a hill are susceptible to soil erosion, which could loosen the root system and cause the tree to fall. Limbs near power lines can fall and knock out electricity to your home and neighbors. Keep trees trimmed back from your house and driveway to prevent damages to your property.

4. Schedule an appointment with a professional tree service to provide a full consultation of your property. Our certified arborists will assess the trees on and around your property to advise you of hazardous and potentially dangerous trees.

Visit www.aplustrees.com for more information