Hazardous Tree Assessment

Hazardous Tree Assessment

A tree is considered hazardous when it has structural defects or partly dead and decaying limbs and one which is located near a public place such as roads, sidewalks, camping grounds or any area where there are people around. Even a perfectly healthy specimen may be deemed to be hazardous if it interferes with public utilities or reduces a motorist’s vision. Common hazards include dead trees, dead branches, stubs from topping cuts, broken branches (hangers), multiple leaders, tight angled crotches and an unbalanced crown. Other potential hazards may stem from environmental conditions, inherent flaws specific to the species, or a combination of such factors. The symptoms that a hazardous tree displays may be simple and obvious; however, they can be complex and difficult to identify.

From our many years of experience as arborists, we can say that no tree is totally safe. There are so many factors to consider and what might look like a tall, stand-alone beauty to the layman may need cabling and bracing to protect it from high winds or a storm. Only a trained eye can perfectly judge a situation.

The number of litigations involving failing trees has increased in recent years, and this has substantially raised the responsibility for ‘duty of care’ on the part of management and owners. Most tree failures are avoidable. A pro-active approach that identifies potentially hazardous trees and formulates a program of mitigation is mandatory to retain a safe environment.

Early detection and correction of defects not only reduces hazards, but decreases maintenance costs. This results in healthier, longer-living trees, reduced landscaping costs, and, most importantly, fewer related accidents resulting in less exposure to legal liabilities.

Daryl’s Tree Care utilises many years of experience and knowledge about tree species, biology, and structure, and are fully aware of the rapidly advancing and changing field of risk assessment and hazard evaluation.

Call us now on 03 9897-4418 for a detailed survey on your property.