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Source: Joseph
O'Brien, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
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No one wants a tree falling on their house. As we all know,
Hurricane Sandy brought down thousands of trees throughout our region, causing
extensive damage to property. Many people are now looking at the trees
surrounding their homes and wondering which will be the next to go. At a recent
meeting of Almstead arborists we found
ourselves discussing a new phenomenon: Tree Removal Panic.
Over the last few months, we’ve had many calls to remove
healthy trees. Sometimes the tree’s owner is concerned about the potential
damage of the tree falling, other times neighbors feel threatened by a tree and
are lobbying for removal. How do you decide how risky a tree is?
The first thing to remember when you look at your trees is:
these trees already survived Sandy. Hurricane winds provided a stress test for
trees which many failed; the ones that survived have proven their resilience. Nevertheless,
it’s best not to take the health of a tree for granted, especially a large tree
that could do damage if it fails. An arborist can evaluate the condition of your
trees by inspecting them for signs of disease or decay; we call this a “Tree
Risk Assessment.” Trees don’t need to be completely disease-free
in order to be stable; it’s important to evaluate the amount of damage inside
the tree as well as the location of any weakness. In some situations, we
actually “look inside” the tree by using an instrument called a Resistograph.
By boring tiny holes into the trunk, we get a map of the amount of decay
inside. We are able to evaluate the level of risk associated with the tree
based on this knowledge.
Armed with the knowledge gained from an arborist, the
decision to keep or remove a tree is ultimately yours. It’s a question of how
much risk you are willing to take. No arborist will guarantee a tree against
failure, any more than a doctor will guarantee that your health will remain
perfect. We each have to determine the level of risk we’re comfortable with,
and weigh the pros and cons. Trees serve
many purposes: they offer shade and keep our homes cool in summer; they provide
habitats for songbirds and animals; they screen us from neighbors or eyesores;
and they are immensely beautiful. They also protect us in many ways. Though a
tree may fall on your roof in a hurricane, it may also shelter your home from
your neighbor’s falling tree – or his airborne lawn chair. It is up to each of
us to decide the cost/benefit balance for keeping a tree.
It’s also important to remember that falling branches are
more common that falling trees. Judicious pruning can substantially reduce the
likelihood of branch failure. Finally, be aware that many communities have
local ordinances that prohibit removing healthy trees from private property. If
your tree is at risk of failure, an arborist can help document the reason for
removal and get the permit from your local government.
I sometimes ask my clients, “Can you experience the
experience?” In other words, if a tree
were to fall on your house, would it be unendurable or worth the risk? How
large is the tree? What would it fall on? A huge tree poised over your child’s
bedroom is a different situation than one that might land on your garage.
As in other areas of our lives, we each have a comfort zone
with regard to risk. For most of us, the small risk associated with being
surrounded by healthy trees is outweighed by the joy they bring us.
