3 Questions To Ask When Deciding Whether To Remove A Damaged Tree
Posted on: 10 June 2015
Trees are a great way to improve the appearance and value of your property. But when faced with a sick or damaged tree, many people struggle to know when to remove it and when to just let it be. Unfortunately, this can often lead to unintended and costly results. If you've got a tree that's suffered damage in a recent storm, read on. This article will introduce three important questions to ask when evaluating whether to have it removed.
What is the extent of the damage?
There are some helpful rules of thumb to bear in mind when assessing the extent of your tree's damage. Where broken branches are concerned, the larger the limb, the more serious the risk of death or disease. Minor limb damage can often be addressed simply by pruning broken branches. If more than one major limb has been lost, however, the tree is not likely to survive, and should probably be removed.
Also take into account the overall proportion of damaged branches. If more than 50% have sustained damage, the tree should likely be removed. The location of broken or injured limbs also plays a factor. You see, if all of the damage has occurred on one side of the tree, this will affect the tree's center of balance. A lop-sided tree has a much greater risk of collapse.
What species of tree is it?
When it comes to safety and stability, not all trees are created equal. Certain species are characterized by undesirable qualities such as weak wood, a tendency to drop limbs, and shallow roots that increase the likelihood of collapse. Even when the damage is not as severe, removal may be the safest option for the following types of trees:
- silver maple
- eucalyptus
- Bradford pear
- black locust
- catalpa
- Siberian elm
- box elder
Where is the tree located?
The local environment of the tree is an important factor when assessing damage. If the tree is adjacent to a body of water, or located on a rock ledge, chances are its root system is fairly shallow. Such trees have less stable root structures, meaning they aren't as hardy when it comes to rebounding from injuries. Likewise, their poor hold makes them more prone to tilting and/or collapsing entirely.
Another factor to consider is the tree's proximity to any recent construction sites. Even if the tree itself was a safe distance away, its root system may have been affected by things like grade changes and soil compaction. Likewise, if the construction project required the removal of any neighboring trees, the resulting increase in exposure to sunlight can cause a tree to become stressed out. Factors such as these can cause a damaged tree to succumb to injuries that a healthy tree would survive.
If you're still unsure, contact a service like Robert Jefferies Logging & Tree Service to get help.
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