How To Spot A Potentially Dangerous Tree Before Winter
Dead or dying trees are dangerous at any time of the year. But winter is an especially risky time of year if a tree on your property is dead or dying. Winter storms, snow, and ice can turn a weakened tree into a deadly falling hazard that puts you and your property at risk.
Before winter arrives then, check the trees on your property for the following danger signs. If you spot a dangerous tree early, you'll be able to hire a tree removal service to remove it for you before the worst of the winter weather arrives.
Check the Roots
Tree roots are a tree's anchors that hold them firmly in the soil. If a tree's roots weaken, strong winds could then rip that tree out of the ground. Walk around the base of your tree and examine the roots. If you see mushrooms growing around the roots and at the base of your tree, this could indicate that your tree's root system is diseased.
And if some of the roots appear damaged or dead, they won't provide sufficient anchorage in a severe storm. Before winter arrives, consider removing any trees on your property with root damage.
Check the Trunk
Some trees can survive for a very long time with cracks, holes, and splits in the trunk. But there is always the risk that bad weather could cause a weakened trunk to break. Another dangerous sign to look for is leaning. If your area is prone to heavy storms, a leaning trunk could succumb to heavy winds; bring the entire tree crashing down.
If you aren't sure, hire an arborist to perform an assessment.
Check the Branches and Crown
Dead branches can turn into dangerous projectiles during storms. You should remove them before winter. And if your tree has multiple dead branches within its crown, it is likely diseased or infested with pests. When trees are stressed or sick, they experience twig and branch dieback. This will be visible as patches of bare branches in your tree's crown.
If your tree has extensive branch dieback throughout its structure, it is dying due to disease, pests, trauma, or an environmental cause such as drought or flood. In such a weakened state, a tree won't be able to withstand the weight of snow resting on its branches or strong winds. Removal is the safest option in this case.
Are your trees winter ready? Don't take any chances if a tree on your property is dead or dying. Hire a tree removal service like Pete & Ron's Tree Service, Inc. to remove it before the winter weather hits.