Trees are beautiful and they make the world run (quite literally, try breathing without a tree) but they can also be dangerous. Nature is filled with things that we love to look at, but we probably don’t want to face their wrath. They have to be dangerous and hardy – they are always standing in the wrath of mother nature and human nature.
Trees don’t mean to be dangerous and they don’t necessarily need to be dangerous. However, in the world we live in, a world where many people don’t get the tree care that they need, it is filled with danger.
Whether you are just moving into a home or you haven’t given your trees enough care in the past and want to look for the warning signs, here are some hidden dangers of trees:
4. Trees Falling On Structures (Or People)
- Happens in bad weather more commonly
- Dead trees are most common to fall
- A branch is enough to do harm
M Live has a treacherous tale of a tree that fell on a house – and it should serve as a warning for anyone who lives in a home that has trees near it. We tend to think that our homes will protect us from any trees that fall, but that isn’t necessarily the case. This is especially true if you have a newer house – they aren’t built to stand up to thousands of pounds falling.
You need to look at your trees and know them quite well. At any moment, a strong gust of wind, a small amount of ice, or a larger amount of snow can bring down a tree branch, or even worse. Know when your trees are in danger and have them inspected regularly. If you think a branch is susceptible to winds or precipitation, consider having them cabled until you can treat the problem.
3. They Can Lead To Legal Problems
- You are legally responsible for your trees and any problems
- Neighbors will pay attention
- Local ordinances may apply
Don’t have a great relationship with your neighbors? Aren’t paying attention to the health of your trees? You could pay for that if something goes wrong. More and more often, lawyers are marketing to those who want to sue or at least get monetary damages from their neighbors for tree-related incidents. This can be as simple as a branch breaking a car or home window or as complicated as an infestation that killed a rare, expensive tree.
If you do not pay attention to your greenery, your neighbor will take notice, and that could pose a risk to you. According to Farmer’s Weekly, this is even a problem for those who rent. Make sure you know what you are responsible for and what your landlord has to do.
2. Stonework, Hardscaping Dangers
- Can uproot public and private property
- Has a potential to ruin pools, driveways, walkways, and more
- Best to work around roots
If you are planning to put in hardscaping, you need to plot out your root system so that you can better understand what you are dealing with and what you need to work around. Roots have a huge potential to ruin any and all hardscaping, so you have to be careful. Working with a professional hardscaping team should help you here. However, your local township might not consult with one.
Of course, you have to be careful about cutting roots or eliminating them. It is a catch 22 system in which you don’t want to cut too much back, but you might have to, depending on your situation. Once again, it is best to work with a professional tree care company and a professional hardscaping company to figure out what will work best for you.
According to Deb Nelson at Stoughton Tree Commission, “There are many kinds of root problems to consider such as severing or paving over roots, raising or lowering the soil grade around the tree, parking or driving vehicles over the roots, or soil-borne pathogens that attack roots causing decay. Loss of roots can lead to an entire tree uprooting and falling over.”
Of course, you should also be careful about tree roots sticking out of the ground. They can hinder you when you are cutting the lawn, playing football with your kids, or even just walking.
1. Tree Care
- Many people aren’t trained to use tools
- Using the wrong techniques can do more damage
- People rent equipment they do not know how to use
We have seen it all – people who have been hit in the eyes with chips when they tried to remove their own trees, people cutting off fingers from trimming their own trees, and even people getting concussions when they fall from trying to climb a tree. Simply put, one of the greatest hidden dangers in owning a tree is just doing the maintenance. A tree is a huge structure and it is tough, which means you need to use tools that are a premium grade, according to WLLP.
Unless you have trained under a master, you absolutely cannot handle many tree care missions. General thought is that you should only trim something that you can use a hand pruner for, and even then, if you have to make more than a few cuts, it is best left to a professional.
Tree care is deadly and even professionals get hurt – don’t risk yourself, your safety, and the safety of anyone around the tree when you are in it.
If you are looking for a tree care professional in Redwood City, give Econo Tree Service a call today at (650) 200-2495. We will help you to better understand your trees and how to handle any watering, planting, pruning, or other tree issues that you may find – of course, we can also help you with other issues as well, including any seasonal tree care needs that you may have. We will provide you with the best possible tree service in the area, and provide you with real solutions that work.