Identifying dangerous trees surrounding your property will keep your property and family safe. Most potential home buyers will schedule an inspection of the home, but it’s also important for home shoppers to consider a thorough tree inspection to keep them from dealing with tree removal or pruning after they buy the home. The inspection gives you great negotiating power. The results of a high-risk tree falling or breaking can cause more damage than you think, so it is essential to check your trees for any hazards that might be present.

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Tree Hazards To Watch For

When inspecting your property, here are a few hazards to watch out for:

Dead limbs

Sometimes there are limbs on your tree that are dead without you even realizing it. These can eventually fall and damage your property or cause injuries if they aren’t taken care of when needed. Dead limbs can remain on a tree for years, with the decay continuously spreading to live tissue and worsening the problem. Make sure you are paying attention or get those limbs removed to help avoid any issues.

Root damage

Roots are a vital part of a tree. They soak in all the water and nutrients needed to survive and keep the tree grounded. But sometimes, the roots are damaged by construction equipment during a project, leading to the entire tree dying or becoming structurally unsound. To see if the roots of your trees are damaged, look for signs of wilting, thinning foliage, undersized leaves, dead branches, or limited growth. If you aren’t sure if the roots are damaged, request an at-home assessment from Hansen’s. We can help distinguish if your tree is in trouble.

Hanging, broken, or damaged limbs

Hanging or broken tree limbs are a bit more visible, but may be concealed if they are in the upper parts of the tree. With a professional inspection, a certified arborist from Hansen’s will use an industry-accepted process to inspect your tree and identify defects.

Poor structure

Trees planted outside of their natural habitat typically grow a broad canopy with more branches and limbs than their woodland cousins. While you may have thought this is how all trees grow, a combination of large limbs and an overextended canopy can structurally weaken the tree. During a storm, these trees are the most at risk because they break easier. Pruning your trees regularly to remove weak or even lower branches can prevent damage in the future.

Issues in the bark and branch unions

During an inspection, arborists will evaluate the tree bark to determine any discoloration, peeling, or other potential signs of damage. These issues can show signs of diseases, such as fungus or improper pruning from previous years. If not pruned correctly, trees can be damaged, decay, or weaken. Ingrown bark tissues can also develop where two or more stems grow closer together and create a “V” shape. When this happens, the branches are more likely to split or break.

Exposed trees

Clearing trees on construction sites can leave other trees exposed to a different environment than they were in previously. If a tree formerly surrounded and shaded by other trees suddenly comes to be in full sun or more exposed to wind, it can become more susceptible to damage because it was not exposed from the start. This does not mean that all trees will be affected, but a professional should evaluate these trees to check their health and make prescriptions to encourage root development.

Assessing Your Tree Hazards

The first step to protecting your property from dangerous trees is getting a professional to come out to your home for an inspection. A certified arborist from Hansen’s Tree Service will perform a Tree Risk Assessment to evaluate for:

• Diseases
• Structural integrity
• Potential for property damage
• Pruning needs
• Species identification
• Maintenance requirements
• Hazardous limbs
• Overgrown roots
• Full growth potential

Request a Tree Risk Assessment

Unidentified tree care issues can come at a significant cost to any homeowner if overlooked and not adequately managed. When you request a tree risk assessment from Hansen’s Tree Service, our certified arborist will ensure your trees, property, and family are safe from any dangers. Fill out a form to request your assessment or call us at 636.379.1830 today.