Anyone who has ever gone to a well-forested park or even enjoyed a bit of relaxation in the shade underneath a big tree on their property will know that trees are an essential part of our lives. Even in big cities, trees are a welcome sight and offer relief from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. With all of the tree benefits you may have, though, are also a few risks that tree owners should be aware of and consider when examining their land.
At Sullins Tree Service in Bastrop, Texas, we provide homeowners and business owners peace of mind with tree risk assessment services. Our team understands the benefits of urban forestry and wants to ensure that the trees on the properties of homes and businesses in Bastrop and the surrounding areas are properly cared for and continue to provide comfort and joy to those who see them.
What Is a Basic Tree Risk Assessment?
When our certified arborists from Sullins Tree Service arrive at your property to complete a tree risk assessment, they are going to visually inspect the tree or trees in question to determine if they pose a threat to the safety or security of those who live in or work at the property. We will be able to assess whether or not certain branches or even an entire tree is likely to fail and cause serious harm or damage.
What Is Involved in a Tree Risk Assessment?
Several factors are considered when trained arborists from Sullins Tree Service assess tree risk. Because we meet each tree risk assessment qualification needed for certification in these types of consultations and are well-aware of the most advanced diagnostic techniques, we know exactly what to look for and how to determine the risks associated with your tree. When assessing tree risk, our team will consider:
- Tree History: Just like the medical history of a human patient, the history of the tree is important to the arborist doing the tree risk assessment. Factors such as previous branch failures, the presence of certain pests, and the tree’s current condition all play a part in the assessment.
- Current Health: Examining the current health of the tree will allow an arborist to determine the tree risk. Our team will look at canopy density, leaf coloring, bark condition, amount of deadwood, and the way old pruning wounds have healed. If everything looks good, the overall health will be positive for the assessment.
- Tree Type: Certain trees pose a higher risk of failure than others simply due to the species of tree. Those with shallow roots are likely to be considered more prone to failure after tree risk assessments are completed.
- Crown Die-Back: If the top-center of a tree (tree crown) with all of its branches appear to have far less leaf coverage than the rest of the tree, then that is a clear sign to an arborist that this is a high-risk tree. It is likely not in good overall health.
- Location: Because a tree risk assessment is designed to figure out if the tree in question poses a risk to the people and objects around it, the location of the tree also plays a part. If there are no objects or people in the vicinity of the tree, our risk managers will reduce the mitigating identified risk of imminent danger for this tree.
When the risk assessment is complete as per the tree risk assessment manual, our team can then let you know the likelihood of failure for your tree’s branches or the tree itself. Our urban forestry experts can also help you figure out how to mitigate any risks and enhance tree benefits that you already enjoy.
Benefits of Tree Risk Assessment in Mitigating Risk
Once you are aware of the potential risks that any of your trees pose to your home, business, family, or customers, you can relax and return your focus to what is most important. If there is limited visual risk and the trees on your property look good through our risk assessment as defined by the American National Standards Institute, you can continue to enjoy the benefits of trees on your property. You will know that your property is safe, and we can provide you more information on how to prolong the healthy life of your trees.
How to Prevent Unnecessary Tree Removal through Tree Risk Assessments
In addition to the actual tree risk assessment itself, there are many ways that you can prevent the unnecessary removal of trees from your property. Many people enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of their trees, so tree removal is often a last resort.
The first way to protect your property and your tree are to remove the potential risk target, if possible. Something like a car, mobile home, picnic table, or other moveable objects can be taken out of harm’s way without disturbing the tree. Unfortunately, homes and businesses cannot be moved quite so easily, so they may present additional issues.
Another easy way to prevent tree removal due to the risk of failure is to regularly prune the tree and provide routine care or maintenance of the tree. Tree management means providing proper tree care through careful pruning to remove dead or diseased branches. Pruning is intended to strengthen the tree, not weaken it, so only an experienced tree service expert should take on the task. Providing the tree with enough water, nutrients, mulch, and cabling support for weak branches can also strengthen the tree and mitigate risks.
Contact Our Experienced Tree Risk Assessment Specialists
If you have a tree or multiple trees on your residential or commercial property and you are looking to have a risk assessment completed, contact the locally-owned and family-operated Sullins Tree Service in Texas. Our team has years of experience and is dedicated to providing you the best possible tree care services.
We understand the value of your trees and want to help you protect the trees and what is most important to you. Call today for tree management services and to request a free estimate for your next project!