August 12, 2020
Photo By anouchka at istock

Trees in Dallas, TX, and other urban areas are very beneficial. They provide shade, improve aesthetics and offer habitats for birds, some wildlife species, and useful insects. Tree maintenance and care, such as tree trimming services, are necessary to safely preserve trees in urban areas. Dead standing trees can be dangerous and damage material objects or injure people. Branches, limbs, and even entire trees can fall unpredictably. Property owners are often responsible for damages caused by trees on their properties.

Tree Risk Assessment

The Texas A&M Forest Service recommends removal of dead trees within falling distance of homes and roads. Risks associated with dead or damaged trees must be assessed and monitored in urban areas. The concentration of people, vehicles and buildings is much greater in cities than rural areas, so opportunities for harm caused by falling branches and trees are much greater as well. Property owners can reduce risk by hiring a professional to assess trees and provide trimming services.

Professional tree assessments should conform to Tree Risk Assessment guidelines. These guidelines come from the Standard Practice for Tree Care Operations released by the American National Standards Institute, also known as ANSI. Assessments take several factors into account, such as tree location in relation to roads, people and property. Other factors include a tree’s age and overall condition, species, and any type of damage a tree has sustained.

Assessments should be done routinely, but they become urgent after certain events and conditions. Inspections are necessary after wildfires, droughts, insect or disease infestations and severe storms. Some tree species are exceptionally vulnerable to certain insects or diseases while other species are much hardier and able to recover from decay. Droughts are not an uncommon occurrence in Texas. The drought of 2011 killed an estimated 301 million trees in forested areas and 5.6 million trees in urban areas.

Trees in poor condition may recover or deteriorate. Monitoring is necessary until a diseased or damaged tree is returned to health or ultimately removed. The surrounding environment also guides assessments and determines the extent of tree trimming services. Trees next to roads or overhanging a separate property are high priority.

Benefits of Professional Tree Trimming Service

Property owners benefit from hiring professional tree trimming services in several ways. Counties, municipalities and even neighborhood associations may have codes and ordinances governing tree trimming and removal. Keeping track of all these regulations can be very stressful. Professionals know these regulations and work with them on a regular basis.

Pruning is the most common type of tree trimming service. It is usually done to address dead branches or improve aesthetics. Pruning is not as simple as it sounds. It must be performed with solid knowledge of tree biology. Mistakes and inappropriate pruning can compromise a tree’s structure and even lead to tree death.

Improper pruning can create lasting damage, or even shorten the tree’s life. The dense leaves surrounding the crown of deciduous trees are necessary to produce energy for growth and regeneration. Excessive or careless pruning can remove too much foliage and cripple a tree’s ability to grow and repair itself.

Removal of weak, dead or diseased limbs can be done at any time of year. Routine pruning is often done before spring to minimize threats to growth and let traumatized areas close to maintain tree health. Pruning cuts should remove branches without injuring the trunk or supporting stem.

Keep cuts as small as possible. Trees can seal small wounds relatively quickly. Larger wounds that can not be completely sealed leave trees vulnerable to decay. Branches that pull away from the tree’s trunk may leave large wounds. Proper pruning reduces further damage during removal, but additional care may be necessary to help the tree recover.

Maple and birch trees often leak sap during early spring pruning. This sap looks alarming, but it does not harm the tree. The open wounds caused by pruning can let some diseases, such as oak wilt, spread more easily because the unprotected open gaps provide easy access for pathogens. Susceptible species should not be trimmed during active disease transmission periods. Consult local tree trimming service providers to have your trees pruned safely.

Preserving Damaged Trees

Property owners may want to preserve a potentially dangerous tree due to rarity, historical significance or personal sentimental value. Tree trimming services can actually help preserve trees that could become problematic if left alone.

Do not prune or cut branches immediately after a tree is damaged unless it is absolutely necessary. Clean up broken branches and other debris and consult your local tree trimming service to help remove hazards. Wait until the immediate threat or incident has passed before making major decisions. It is best to wait a year, if possible, before deciding to remove a tree.

Tree trimming services can be combined with structural supports to preserve trees. Pruning removes dead or damaged branches then technicians

carefully place cables and brace rods to prop up structural weaknesses, such as V crotches in large limbs. Structural supports are often used to stabilize large trees after leader branches are lost, usually during a storm. The supports give the tree time to heal without endangering surrounding houses and property.

Tree cables are made of high strength synthetic fibers or steel. Bolts are placed around the tree’s upper crown to provide anchors for cable attachment. Cables restrain branches and severely limit movement to prevent snapping or breaking during storms.

Braces are steel rods threaded through broken branches, split trunks, or stems. These steel rods can stabilize weak or damaged crotches and support lower areas of the tree’s trunk to reduce twisting by strong winds. Cabling and bracing are especially beneficial for tree species with large, open canopies.

Contact the professionals at S&P Tree Service in Dallas, TX, to help you keep the trees on your property healthy and safe. They offer a 24-hour emergency service for hazardous situations.