Owen Tree Service
Tree Risk Assessment
Owen Tree Service: Your Trusted Arborists in Michigan
Trees: Valuable Assets with Potential Risks
Trees add beauty and value to landscapes, serving as key components of well-designed properties. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, trees play a significant role in sustainability, with millions being planted in the U.S. to reduce pollution and enhance urban and suburban environments. However, along with their value comes the potential cost of maintenance and, in some cases, the risk of injury or property damage if a tree fails. Tree failures typically fall into two categories:
- Extreme, unpredictable conditions.
- Failures due to obvious structural weaknesses in the tree.
The Unpredictability of Tree Failure
Extreme weather events like tornadoes, hurricanes, and ice storms can cause even healthy trees to fail. According to The Weather Channel, ice can increase the weight of branches by thirty times. Trees do not naturally develop to withstand such rare weather conditions, meaning any tree, regardless of its age, species, or condition, can fail in these circumstances. While extreme events are uncommon, they are often catastrophic. More commonly, however, trees fail under normal conditions when their structure is compromised.
Identifying Structural Weakness in Trees
Throughout their lives, trees sustain damage, disease, or decay. The key question isn’t whether a tree has some damage but rather how much, where it’s located, and whether it weakens the tree’s stability. Tree failure isn’t always an unavoidable "act of God." If a tree shows obvious signs of decay or structural weakness, its integrity should be questioned. Common signs include:
- Cavities at branch wounds or on the trunk or roots
- Fungal growth on or around the tree
- An excessive number of dead limbs
- Cracked limbs or trunks, especially if oozing
- Fallen branches larger than 2 inches in diameter
Even apparently healthy trees can be blown over in high winds.
With visible trunk decay and a fungal fruiting body growing at the base of the branch, this branch failure could have been easily predicted.
Trunk decay and woodpecker damage will likely lead to this tree trunk failing under high winds.
Canker on a tree trunk will cause a structural weakness.
Does a Hazardous Tree Mean Danger?
Not necessarily. There are two main factors to consider:
- Trees naturally shed dead limbs, and wood decay is common in older trees. Defects do not always indicate imminent failure, as trees are resilient organisms.
- Risk is more about what the tree could impact if it fails. A tree may be structurally compromised but pose little risk if it’s in an area with no valuable structures, vehicles, or people nearby.
It’s best to consult an arborist before a tree fails. Regularly inspect trees near your home or other targets, especially after storms. Large trees near houses or driveways should be professionally assessed for risk. Arborists are trained to detect signs of structural weakness and can recommend ways to reduce the potential for failure.
How to Reduce the Risk of Hazardous Trees
While internal decay cannot be treated, the risk of tree failure can be minimized by reducing stress on compromised wood. Some options include:
- Young Tree Training: Early pruning helps establish strong tree structure. Pruning should be done soon after planting and continue regularly during the first 10-20 years. This ensures a single main trunk and well-spaced branches.
- Correcting Tree Form: If a tree wasn’t pruned properly when young, stress can be reduced by pruning competing trunks or reducing the crown size to lessen the load on weak areas.
- Storm-Proofing Trees: Removing weak limbs or reducing the canopy can reduce storm damage, preventing branches from ripping down the trunk or causing further injury.
- Crown Reduction: For trees with weak trunks or limbs, reducing the spread and height of branches lowers the risk of breakage.
- Cabling and Bracing: Arborists can install cables and rods to support weak limbs or trunks, following industry standards for safe placement.
- Removing the Target: In urban settings, it may not be possible to remove targets like buildings or vehicles, but where feasible, moving valuable items away from compromised trees can reduce risk.
The Importance of Regular Tree Inspections
Regular inspections are an essential part of tree maintenance. Early detection of structural defects or damage can prevent further issues. For property managers, keeping written records of tree inspections can help demonstrate proper care, especially in the case of injury or damage during extreme weather.
Arborist using a Resistograph to detect internal decay.
Counties we Serve
Owen Tree Service is affiliated with the following tree care industry organizations
What Our Customers Are Saying
Tyler Smith
I have used Owen for over 10 years. They take care of my Apple tree, shrubs, lawn irrigation and weed/fertilizer. I have always found them to be price competitive, thoughtful and timely. 5 stars from me!
Gayle Rickert
Responsiveness, Punctuality, Quality, Professionalism
Trish did an exceptional job of assessing the tree removal, trimming, diseased/dead trees, and brush removal on our property. She explained the processes clearly and in detail. Trish is an extremely knowledgeable arborist. I highly recommend her to give a comprehensive review & estimate of your landscape needs.
Tim Nyquist
Responsiveness, Punctuality, Quality, Professionalism, Value
The folks at Owen Tree Service took such good care of my family. We had a massive tree fall on our house and cars, completely upending our lives, and Dave Kidd, Kay Sicheneder, and their whole crew working on it not only did a great job evaluating and removing, but also spent a good deal of time chatting with us, consoling us, offering advice, and generally putting our minds at ease. I sincerely appreciated everything they did for us and would highly recommend them if you’re looking for a good tree service. I can’t thank them enough.
Andrew Lapeer
I hired Owen to do a tree removal and some pruning for me. Extremely happy with the care they used on my property. I am also using them for my lawn fertilization this year. Arborist seems very knowledgeable.
Linda Janiszewski
Punctuality, Quality, Professionalism, Value
We are very happy with the work they did. We had a large birch tree trimmed that had power lines on each side. There were 4 workers and they worked well together as a team to get the job done. They cleaned up the yard around the tree and did a professional job. They also asked us if we liked it before they left. We would highly recommend Owen Tree Service!
Tonia Burns
Responsiveness, Professionalism
Called about having a 17ft tree placed in our yard. Received a call back from Trish you was incredibly gracious with her time and information. Unfortunately, trees that are over 6ft can't be planted by them. However, Trish gave me more than enough info to be confident about having a tree of that sized planted. I'd definitely call and use them for any other future services.