How do you manage your hazardous trees?

A definition: A tree hazard refers to any potential tree failure due to a structural defect that may result in property damage or personal injury. From “Tree Hazards: Recognition and Reduction in Recreation Sites,” 1981.

Whether you hire the services, or perform in-house, below are some resources for background information.

1. What to Look For. Hazardous defects are visible signs that the tree is failing. A tree with defects is not hazardous, however, unless some portion of it is within striking distance of a target. Seven main types of tree defects are identified and recommendations are made for when to take action:

• dead wood
• cracks
• weak branch unions
• decay
• cankers
• root problems, and
• poor tree architecture.

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/howtos/ht_haz/ht_haz.htm#what

2. The International Society of Arboriculture publishes a series of consumer education materials at http://treesaregood.org/treecare/treecareinfo.aspx. Topics include:

• Why Topping Hurts Trees
• Insect and Disease Problems
• Recognizing Tree Risk
• Avoiding Tree Damage During Construction
• Treatment of Trees Damaged by Construction
• Safe Response to Tree-related Storm Damage

3. “Tree Hazards: Knowing When to Preserve and When to Cull.” PowerPoint slides. Dr. Wiseman, Department of Forestry, Virginia Tech, 2006. Topics include liability, hazards, defects, inspections, remediation, etc. http://frec.vt.edu/Faculty/Wiseman%20Publications/Tree%20Hazards.pdf