25 Feb Is My Tree Dangerous?
Factors to Consider
It’s understandable that a dying or dangerous looking tree can cause concern and questions. Exactly how dangerous is your tree? Is there an immediate risk? What do you look out for? How do you prevent it? Can I save my tree? Don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place. Also, most likely because you haven’t heard of this one… do you actually have permission to cut down your own tree if it is? Wait, what? Yep. You heard it.
For the simple question of is it dangerous it seems like a lot but fear not, as we’ll give you all the information you need.
What makes a tree dangerous?
Before worrying yourself unnecessarily the first step is to determine if it’s actually dangerous or not. There are a variety of different factors that can make a tree dangerous. From the obvious to the illusive, we’ll go through the important ones, however the best way to get a confident answer is to get in a tree surgeon (Especially if a branch looks like it’s about the give and cause expensive property damage, I would do that Stat!). As well as being able to name every tree in Latin for you (a fun bonus), they’ll know everything needed and be able to make a thorough assessment and plan of action.
Quick disclaimer – this first one might catch you by surprise and instil the living fear into you if you only read the subheading – so, please do read ALL of it. We don’t want to scare you!
1. Exploding Ash die back
Not as rad as it sounds but yes, in a way ash dieback can cause trees to ‘explode’. Essentially, ash dieback causes trees to lose all its strength and crumble when weight or pressure is applied to it. This generally happens when someone tries to climb up it. Simply felling it from the bottom is not a good idea either because the tree is so weak, it could go in any direction and separate into multiple parts. This is why it’s crucial to get in a tree surgeon if you suspect this is the case, looking out for the symptoms below. So how can a tree surgeon take it down if it explodes when climbed? We’ll get to that! First of all we need to know what Ash die back is exactly and what to look out for now you’ve been made aware of the dangers. Ash die back is a serious disease caused by fungus that affects specifically ash trees. ‘It was first detected in the UK for the first time in 2012 and is now very widespread’ states RHS. Unfortunately it can affect ash trees of all ages and is not curable. It can also put other ash trees close-by in danger of being infected with the disease. It starts decaying from the top of the tree and works its way down weakening the tree which can lead them to unexpectedly self-fell, especially if they’re bigger ones. So what can we look out for?
- The tips of the tree have started to die and there are dead branches.
- You’ll notice dark diamond shaped lesions on the trunk.
- There might be general dark lesions on the branches.
- There will be black patches on leaves and they’ll start wilting.
Tree surgeons will safely cut down trees experiencing ash dieback piece by piece with a cherry picker as it’s the safest way to do it. It also allows them to have control over the direction of the tree by taking it down in small chunks, minimising any opportunity for property damage.
2. Decaying/Dead trees/hanging branches
This one is pretty self explanatory however sometimes a tree can still look or be alive but have deadwood such as branches etc. This is because trees decay from the inside out. It’s common for a tree to collapse and when you look into the stump it is hollow as it’s completely rotted away from the inside. Sometimes it might just be a branch that is infected or dead but a tree surgeon will be able to inspect how extensive the damage is. It’s mostly weather or extreme decay that can cause limbs and branches to fall off unexpectedly or be left hanging on by a thread, swaying high up in the sky. Of course usually above expensive property is the way it goes or that gorgeous new sun house you’ve just built. Life has a cruel sense of humour.
3. Compromised/rotten roots
Compromised roots are exactly as they sound, roots that have been damaged or infected, compromised. This can happen if the tree is wounded as it’s then exposed to bacteria and fungi that can cause the wound to become infected and spread to lower levels. Just the act of harming a root can also cause a root to die as they’re quite sensitive. This often happens to roots that are exposed on the surface.
When it comes to root rot, excessive moisture is the number one culprit. Also having access to too much water consistently causes the roots to stay at a shallow level and not grow further down. When there’s too much water around it can cause roots to open and seep making them susceptible to fungal infections. As roots are settled underground it’s hard to see up front if the roots are rotten. This is where we have to play detective and look for clues. The best way to spot it is through a lack of nutrition in the tree, ranging from discoloured leaves to stunted growth.
4. Previous Vertical tree develops a lean
A tree that’s always had a lean will have a root system with good stability however if the tree was previously vertical and it develops a lean it means that it has been or is becoming uprooted. This is a common occurrence after construction on a site. Something as simple as installing a driveway can affect a tree even if it seems quite far away as it causes changes in the compactness of the soil. The main danger for trees that are uprooted or beginning to are that they are no longer structurally stable. This can also happen due to high winds from storms depending on the type of tree. It’s also common for storms and high winds to send the uprooted tree over the edge and to self fell which is… not ideal. If you notice that your tree has developed a lean it’s best to get in contact with a tree surgeon who can assess the situation.
5. Dense Crown
This last one isn’t a qualifier for turning on the blaring alarm bells but is just something to consider as it’s a good prevention step to stop any damage from happening in the future. If the top of your tree (the crown) is thick and dense it’s a liability in storms as a higher density at the crown of the tree creates a lot of drag, which can cause wind damage to the tree. Depending on the tree and it’s state it can also affect the stability of it. It’s a good idea to get the crown thinned if this is the case with your tree. It’s also the perfect opportunity for a tree surgeon to remove any dead or diseased branches if found.
Now you know the dangers and the things to look out for, it’s time to check that you’re allowed to cut it down…
Wait, I need permission to cut down my own tree? how do I find out and what can I do?
The good news is that generally, you can do as you please with your own trees. So why did we make you panic? There are a few scenarios where you can’t that you should check first as if you do, it is a criminal offence. Pretty serious! So what are those scenarios?
- When there’s a TPO (Tree Protection Order), this is when a tree is of a special species, is a local amenity or significant to the environment. This means you are not allowed to fell the tree, lop it or top it. You can find out more about it here.
- The other scenario is that the tree is in a conservation area. If you are unsure you can contact your local council to find this out. If it’s dangerous, you guessed it, it’s time to contact the council. They are the only people who can approve any work being done to the tree apart from pruning, which is taking a small amount off the tree which keeps it healthy.
How do I prevent my tree from becoming dangerous?
Unfortunately there are a lot of things that you can’t control when it comes to trying to prevent your tree from becoming dangerous. The best you can do is make sure that your tree is looked after and at the first sign of any of the above, get it checked out. With rotting roots it’s best to keep on top of the visible symptoms as it’s hard to tell when it’s happening as the obvious diagnosis with the roots aren’t visible, leaving it only detected when it’s too late.
Hopefully this article has helped you rule out some concerns and given you some helpful knowledge. It’s important to make you aware of some of the dangers as it could prevent accidents, such as someone at home trying to take down a tree that has ash dieback as they might not be aware of the warning signs. Most of the time it’s ok but where a suspected dangerous tree is concerned hiring a professional with knowledge and experience pays off.
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