Summertime brings sunny days and warm nights, but it can also bring dramatic thunderstorms and, depending on where you live, hurricanes or tornadoes.  Once the season passes and fall turns to winter, weather threats include gusts of wind heavy snow and thick layers of ice.  All of these things can have an impact on the trees on your property.

Summer is the easiest time of year to inspect your trees and have them pruned or otherwise maintained.  Keeping your trees healthy and strong is the best way to prevent damage during severe weather.  A weak tree is subject to dropping heavy limbs or falling onto your home, power lines, car, or even a person.  You can minimize the risk to your property by taking a proactive approach to tree care.  The key is knowing what to look for and when to consult a professional.

If you have a lot of large trees on your property, investing in an inspection from a professional arborist is the most effective way to head off problems before they lead to expensive and potentially dangerous problems.  An inspection will reveal signs of decay or insect damage you may not know to look for on your own.  Professional inspection will reveal where your trees need to pruned, how their growth may affect other structures on your property in the coming years, and whether or not you may need to consider removing any trees or large limbs.

Once you’ve had an inspection and taken care of any issues with your trees, you can help to maintain the health of the trees by careful observation.  Knowing the warning signs and what to look for will allow you to stay on top of future risks.  If you see any of these symptoms in your trees, you definitely need to consult a professional to minimize the risk posed by these issues.

1.  Significant leaning of the tree to one side.

2.  Cracks in the truck of the tree or major limbs.

3.  Mushrooms or other fungus growing from the bark of the tree.

4.  Tree branches hanging over the roof of your home.

5.  Limbs or branches that are very close to or hanging over power lines.

6.  Any signs of decay or hollowing of the tree.

It’s also a good idea to recheck your trees after each major storm to check for any beginning signs of damage that could escalate during the next big weather event.  If you have any questions or would like to schedule an inspection, give us a call!