In last week’s blog post, we looked at the many reasons why residential property owners allow unhealthy or dangerous trees to remain on their property. Today, we’re going to look at how fruit and shade trees become unsafe or dangerous over time, and why they should be removed from residential properties. Property owners need to know if their trees are still safe to remain on their property before disaster strikes.
When it comes to understanding health concerns, many people try to self-diagnose their symptoms and find treatments through Internet searches or talking with friends and family. Although this might seem like a helpful start, in reality the safest and most accurate diagnosis and treatment will always come from family doctors, surgeons or specialists. The same is true for assessing and diagnosing tree health – property owners might be able to identify a symptom or problem, but ultimately a Certified Arborist is the only one with the training and expertise to correctly diagnose, treat or repair a sick or dangerous tree.
Trees can become unhealthy or dangerous over time because of three common problems. First, a tree can become unhealthy or dangerous due to breaks or cracks in the tree trunk. A major tree crack can cause the tree to lose stability, allowing it to easily topple over during severe weather. Additionally, trees that are never pruned or have been over pruned can become dangerous over time because of heavy limbs and uneven growth. In both cases, trees are a danger to the property owners, other individuals, and surrounding property such as homes, cars and buildings.
Tree location is a great indicator of whether or not a tree is safe to remain on a residential property. If a tree is located too close to a utility pole or power line, then future tree growth can increase the risk for electrocution or utility service disruptions. Trees planted too close to structures like houses or buildings can cause damage to foundations, irrigation systems, or underground utilities because of their root expansion. Any benefits provided by a fruit or shade tree are quickly overshadowed by the threat of damage due to expanding roots or branches making contact with utility lines.
Finally, trees that have becomes severely diseased or have died should not remain on residential properties. Although they might be desired for financial or sentimental reasons, they offer little to no aesthetic value, and they are a threat to personal and property safety. Additionally, tree diseases can easily spread to other healthy shade trees, causing widespread destruction and much higher costs to the property owner for treatment or tree removal.
If you’re not sure whether your trees should remain on your residential properties, contact the Certified Arborists of Embark Services for a free evaluation. Their team of tree care experts will carefully examine your trees and determine a proper course of action to leave your property beautiful and healthy. Embark Services offers a full range of tree care services, including tree trimming, tree planting, cabling and bracing, deep root fertilization, irrigation installation, root flare evacuation, and tree removal services. Contact Embark Services today for more information on their tree care services, or to request your free evaluation.
