Property owners often schedule voluntary tree removal in Louisville, KY, when they want to create more open space or improve the look of their landscape. However, this service becomes essential if you have a hazardous tree on your property that threatens your safety. As leaders in detecting and removing hazardous and unhealthy trees, Tree Care Inc. understands the warning signs to look out for.
In this guide, we’ll review the most common signs that you have a dangerous tree on your property. Discover key information on this topic so you can enhance the safety of your property.
The Dangers of Keeping Unsafe Trees Standing
Why should you book a tree removal service when a visual inspection or tree risk assessment shows safety concerns? Leaving the tree standing can have severe consequences, including:
- Potential property damage: No matter what makes a tree become hazardous, it comes with a risk of toppling whenever the root system can no longer support the tree. If this happens, you’ll have to navigate severe property damage and extensive cleanup services.
- Injuries: Many people report injuries caused by falling trees or branches every year. Don’t risk your own safety by leaving an unsafe tree upright.
- A decline in health for nearby trees: If you have a hazardous or decaying tree due to tree disease, letting the structure rot will continue to compromise its structural integrity. Ignoring the problem also allows the tree disease to spread and possibly make the surrounding trees hazardous too.
To keep yourself and your property safe, don’t hesitate to schedule hazardous tree removal before the tree’s structure worsens.
Six Signs You Have an Unsafe Tree That Needs Immediate Removal
A certified arborist can perform a tree risk assessment to determine any hazards your tree poses. They might uncover dangerous aspects of your tree that you’re not aware of, but in general, it’s easy to pinpoint a hazardous tree on your own. Check out the most common signs that you need to schedule a tree removal service for your safety.
1. Numerous Dead Branches
Spotting one or two dead branches on your tree can be concerning, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the tree needs to come down. Pruning the deadwood should help improve aesthetics and promote healthy growth. However, if the majority of your tree’s branches rot and droop, there’s not much you can do to save the structure.
Rather than risking the branches snapping and hurting someone, it’s best to remove the tree. Arborists can identify the reason behind the decay and assess the health of your nearby trees as well. Common causes of dead tree branches include:
- Root damage and rotting
- Compacted soil
- Tree diseases
- Pest infestations
Be mindful of any drooping or dead branches on your tree and contact a professional tree service company right away. They will let you know whether your tree needs preventative pruning or if it must come down.
2. The Tree Leans Significantly
The root system in a leaning tree will eventually give out and cause the structure to fall in the direction it’s leaning toward. This can be especially dangerous if the tree leans near your home, powerlines, or other structures on your property. Arborists may be able to stabilize the tree’s structural integrity if it only has a slight lean, but a lean of more than 10 degrees usually indicates it’s time for hazardous tree removal.
3. Cankers or Cracks in Trunk
Your tree might suffer damage to the trunk due to either disease or a festering tree wound. Look out for dead sections or bark, also called cankers, or cracks along the trunk. These symptoms increase the chance of your tree splitting at the trunk and falling over so alleviate that concern by removing the structure as soon as possible.
4. The Trunk Has Holes or Cavities
A large cavity on the tree’s trunk may not seem like a major concern but it actually indicates a decline in the tree’s health and strength. As the cavity grows, the trunk becomes less stable and may eventually cause the tree to fall onto your property.
Several smaller holes along the trunk also pose a problem. Woodpeckers typically punch holes in trees that are dead or beginning to rot. Their frequent activity will continue to affect the tree’s health and structural integrity.
5. A V-Shaped Trunk
A tree’s trunk should not jet out in two different directions near the base. You should only have fullness at the top where branches begin to grow. If you have a tree with a trunk that splits near the bottom to form a V shape, be cautious that it won’t be as strong as trees with one sturdy base.
Any splitting of the trunk affects the tree’s lean and stability. As mentioned before, a significant lean of the trunk poses a problem that you can’t ignore.
6. Evidence of Fungus or Mushrooms
Spotting a hazardous tree with a disease requires you to look closely at the bark and foliage. If you see small mushrooms or fungus sprouting along the trunk or branches, contact a professional arborist for a tree risk assessment. The tree likely has a fungal infection and the damage could be irreparable.
Don’t wait to address a diseased tree. If you catch the signs early enough, arborists might be able to manage the illness and bring the tree back to health. Letting the tree continue to rot risks the disease spreading to other trees and weakening its structure, leaving you with no other option but to remove it.
Maintain Healthy Trees and Eliminate Safety Risks With Tree Care Inc.
Not only is a hollow tree trunk dangerous but noticing cankers on bark, fungus or mushrooms, and more indicate a hazardous tree. At Tree Care Inc., we help Louisville property owners like you stay safe by removing the dangerous tree quickly and can assess the risk of other trees on your property. Give us a call at (502) 326-3661 to request a quote for tree care services. Get help today.
