We say that no tree is completely safe. Trees contribute greatly to the value, beauty, and comfort of any residential property; however, given their potentially massive size and weight, they also pose a potential liability. Trees that are not well maintained, are damaged, or are diseased can topple over or drop large branches without warning, causing serious injury to any unlucky home, car, or person in its path. Even trees that appear to be outwardly healthy can potentially be a safety risk. To avoid expensive or catastrophic consequences, proactive measures are needed!

The only way to minimize such liabilities on your residential property is to identify and correct any hazardous trees before they become a problem. An experienced, licensed arborist is needed to complete a comprehensive hazardous tree assessment. Arborists have a keen understanding of tree biology and have received formal training in identifying and mitigating structural defects that may lead to broken branches or failures in the trunk or roots.

A professional hazardous tree assessment encompasses the following steps:

• The arborist assesses any potential targets around and under the tree in question, such as houses, sidewalks, vehicles, or other trees.
• The arborist thoroughly examines the tree for any internal or external defects that could compromise the structure, such as: cracks in the trunk or major branches; weak branch unions; dead, decaying, or broken branches; insect damage; root damage or disease; poor tree shape or leaning; and the presence of “cankers,” areas of exposed wood underneath bark that are highly susceptible to decay.
• Using the information gathered above, the arborist calculates a hazardous rating score that takes into account both potential fall targets as well as the location and severity of defects in the tree.
• If the hazardous score is high, the arborist determines any necessary corrective actions to prevent premature tree failure or future storm damage. Actions can range from pruning or cabling to, in extreme cases, removing the tree entirely.

Because Northeast Ohio is prone to inclement weather, many homeowners worry about sustaining property damage from falling tree branches. If you are wondering whether a tree in your yard is at risk to fall, the certified arborists at VanCuren Tree Services are here to help. We have three decades’ worth of experience in conducting hazardous tree assessments in communities throughout the Greater Cleveland area, and have the expertise to quickly resolve any structural problems. With VanCuren Tree Services, you will be able to rest assured that you have minimized your risk of property damage and injury from hazardous trees.