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Spotting Dangerous Trees
Going Green
Going Green: Spotting Dangerous Trees
We've all seen the heavy damage that can be done when violent winds or ice and snowstorms whip through our neighborhoods. Trees topple on cars, homes, and take out power lines. Homeowners can prevent some of the damage by spotting dangerous trees and removing them before a storm hits.
“I think the first thing you should so is look at the crown. Look for any dead and dying branches. Look for any branches that have been pruned, some of the pruning may've been done improperly. You also want to be looking for any fungus that may be growing,” said Dr. Rene' Germain, forest management.
Dr. René Germain says these are signs of problems inside the tree that can be weakening it. One likely cause is damage to the roots that occurred years ago, perhaps when a new sidewalk or driveway was put in.
The root system of a tree goes out well beyond what we call the drip line, where those last branches are dripping water. It's sort of a myth that the roots end there. Any damage that occurs to those roots, especially the root fibrils at the end of the roots is going to have an impact in the crown several years later.
Also at risk, trees that have been trimmed because of power lines, trees with leaves that fall early or the leaves turn brown and brittle. And there are trees to avoid when you're planning a landscape.
The big white pine has a crown structure that lends itself to big, broken branches. The Norway spruce, the amount of surface on those needles collect ice and snow and become extremely heavy and also, a very popular one, the Norway maple which have such big, thick crowns they present themselves as a target.
