Tree Hazard Assessment

As your local tree experts, we’d be happy to assess the health of trees on your property to make sure that you don’t have a hazard growing in your landscape. We’ll take a look at the trees throughout your property, and we’ll let you know the best solution to remove the hazard at hand. Often, we’ll cut limbs that are a hazard to your home and its residents. Other times, we may have to cut down your tree entirely if it has significant damage. In some cases, tree limbs (or trees) may be saved.

So let’s talk tree hazard assessment and tree care Here are hazards that you can keep an eye out for, some frequently asked questions that we encounter, and why you should act right away when you do notice a hazard.

Signs of a Hazardous Tree

When spring rolls around, it’s likely that your landscape will look a little lackluster, thanks to the snowy months. You can end up with felled trees, broken branches, dead shrubs and bushes, sorry-looking mulch, you name it. Fortunately, you can count on the experts here at Able Tree to clean up your property. As the weather warms up, you can schedule an appointment with us to take a look at your property and provide a thorough cleanup. We’ll customize our services to fit your individual needs, but our goal is always the same: With our spring cleanups, we strive to make sure that your property and its plants are ready for the upcoming growing season; plus, we’ll do our utmost to ensure that your lot looks great. We can provide any and all of the following services, per your request:

Lightning strikes and storm damage: Lightning strikes, strong winds, and heavy snowfall can leave your trees damaged. If your tree has endured a lightning strike, then it’s likely that it will have to be cut down. While some trees can survive a strike, most strikes travel straight through the trunk of the tree, and the bolt will superheat the water in the tree, which kills any nearby wood. Your tree may even catch fire if it is struck. We can cut down any tree that has been unfortunate enough to fall victim to lightning.

Strong winds may also leave your tree out of sorts. With strong enough winds, branches can end up snapping, leaving your tree with dangling limbs. Most often, we can save trees that have endured heavy winds, though we will have to lop off any limbs that have been damaged in the storm — since these branches are liable to fall and damage your property or harm passersby.

Heavy snowfalls tend to hit us every year here in Michigan, and that can wreak havoc on the health of your trees. If you have trees whose branches can’t handle the weight of snow accumulation, these branches can snap. What’s worse is that the temperature during a snowstorm will make your branches even more brittle. We recommend that you shake off your branches if you can reach them safely, while snow is accumulating. If you end up with damaged branches after a snowstorm, we can stop by to cut down any branches that have become hazardous.

Discolored branches: Branch discoloration is a sign that your branch is dying or dead. Branches can get discolored if they’re suffering from an infestation of mold, mildew, or pests. In addition, a branch may simply dry out and die, which will discolor the branch. Keep an eye out for branches that are black, white, or green, when they shouldn’t be. We can cut these branches before the problem worsens and before mold, mildew, or pests decide to spread to other branches throughout your tree.

Dead and dying branches: If you have branches that are on their last limb, it’s time to call in your local tree experts. We’ll assess and remove tree branches that are damaged, infested with insects or mold, and branches that are completely dead. In some cases, tree limbs can be saved. For instance, you may have a tree limb that isn’t producing leaves, it may have just endured a cold snap, and removal may not be necessary.

Obstructive branches: Sometimes branches are simply in the way. If you have a tree with limbs that extend towards power lines, your home, or another structure, then you’ll want to have those obstructive branches removed. We can shape your trees and lop off unnecessary limbs so that your tree won’t be a hazard in the future.

Loss of bark: Bark loss is an indication that your tree or its branches are no longer healthy. Your tree may lose bark if it is dying, if it is old, if pests are destroying the bark, or if your tree isn’t receiving enough nutrients, water, or sunlight. Keep an eye out for bark loss on your tree. If you have a tree whose trunk is missing bark, then it may need to be cut down. If only some branches are missing bark, then your tree may be saved.