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| The following article was contributed by Dutch Afman, Master Gardener and Consulting arborist, this brief was filed with Tri-River Ext. C.S.U. on February 6, 1997. TREES....ARE..... HAZARDOUS !!!!!!!!! ????????? Yes, and so are the stars in the heaven. ! Some fail, some fall! You have read a warning label "This product may be hazardous to your health", from tobacco to alcohol to airbags in automobiles. etc.....However our subject matter deals with "HAZARDOUS TREE EVALUATION", This is a system of assessing the potential for a tree or one of its parts to fail and, in doing so , injure people or damage property. ALL TREES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO FAIL!! We are dealing with a living organism, a tree contains about 85% water, 19% carbohydrates and ONE PERCENT (tree owner management). A little more later about this 1% management. In order for a tree to be HAZARDOUS, it requires a tree with the potential to fail and a target. Without a target there is no hazardous tree. A Certified Arborist or a Consulting Arborist can evaluate the individual trees, assess their hazard and recommend appropriate action. Trees in an Urban area are not different from the natural forest area. It's a misconception.... " When I am in a city, it should be safe to sit under a tree!" There are "So called Arborists", equipped with a pick up truck and a chain-saw, who will "top" your trees at a very "low" price, this increases disease, weakens new branches and potential failure due to improper pruning. Failures occur in branches 50%, trunk 25% and roots 25%, in addition "bleeding" the "oozing", the "conks and mushrooms" on the trunks and the often overlooked root condition. In most cases, tree failures do not occur at random, but can be predicted, such as the presence of decay, now combine that with some strong winds or saturated soils and you have the "Potential Hazardous Tree". Our municipal arborists are constantly on the "Look Out" mode for the potential problem, but we are really talking here about...."Our Own Yard"! And now about the 1% "Home, YOUR OWN yard Management....... May we suggest that you stay "IN TOUCH" with your own trees, check them at least on a weekly basis, start at the roots, flare, base of the trunk, see some mushrooming? conks? You didn't plant flowers around the base of the tree? Check the trunk, do you see any little holes, large holes, cracks, see any sawdust. Look up at the branches, are they dropping or breaking frequently? All hazards can not be eliminated, but in most cases, tree failures can be predicted and you don't want to get hurt or have your property damaged! |