It’s easy to understand the urgency of getting treatment for a tree that is unhealthy or dying – quick work and immediate care could turn the tide and save your tree. But, once the battle is lost, and the tree is dead, it’s easy to assume that dealing with that dead tree is no longer a time-sensitive task. But it definitely is.
Even before your tree has completely died, it’s likely that it’s already started to deteriorate. A tree that is dying often has limbs that die off while the rest of the tree still has life left in it. Sometimes even whole sections of the trunk can die off while other parts of the tree still grow leaves and even flower and bear fruit. So once a tree has truly died, the decomposition process is probably already well underway.
And you don’t want a dead, decomposing tree on your property or around your family, for a variety of reasons. This is not a “wait and see” situation. This is a “call someone today” situation.
The Risks
Lost Limbs
A tree that has died is already coming apart, even if you can’t see it yet. And that means that the most immediate and obvious risk is from the sudden loss of limbs from the tree – which can include massive, older limbs that seem too strong to lose. Once the tree is dead, those branches are coming down, eventually, it’s just a matter of when and what they’ll fall on.
These large lost limbs can fall on anything in the vicinity of the tree – your home, other structures around your home (fences, garages, etc.), people, pets, cars, power lines and literally anything else around them. There is no telling exactly what might cause these limbs to crack and fall, but severe weather conditions such as storms, ice, wind, and hail can hasten their deterioration and turn them into a serious hazard.
Complete Structural Failure
Everything that was said above about branches and limbs is EQUALLY true for the entire trunk and full structure of a dead tree. That means the whole tree could come down at any time once the tree is dead. Unless you can go out in your yard and state, with complete certainty, that there is nothing you care about within the fall radius of that tree, you need to give your local tree removal company a call today. The collapse of a large, dead tree (during a strong winter storm, perhaps?) is an extreme threat to life a property. Even seemingly sturdy and stable dead trees can be weakened and felled by intense weather.
Pest Infestations
Nature is amazing, and every part of your dead tree will eventually be naturally recycled by the actions of molds, bacteria, and fauna. Every part of a dead tree will nurture life going forward. And that’s really beautiful … but it’s not always beautiful when it’s happening in your backyard, around your family. Everything from rodents to wasps to creepy crawlies can make a home in your tree and/or take food from it. You don’t really want to create a haven for pests in an area so close to your home and your family. Let us remove the tree, and nature can break it down elsewhere, far from where your family is playing and enjoying your yard.
Root Rot
As a tree breaks down, the roots do, as well. This means that the roots gradually rot and decay beneath the ground. And this is a totally normal process … that you don’t want to affect the other trees in your yard. The rotting of the root structure of the dead tree can allow mold to spread beneath the ground, possibly traveling into the root structures of other trees, or even into wooden structures on the surface of your yard. Removing these roots, along with the dead tree, helps to preserve the other trees in your yard.
Spreading Mold or Bacteria
Mold and bacteria have important roles in the breakdown of anything that has died. They help to process the elements of the tree back into the soil that will nourish new growth. And that’s great – but again, it might not be something you really want going on just feet from a family picnic or your kids’ basketball hoop. Although these molds and bacteria are natural, that doesn’t mean they’re safe. Removing the breeding ground for mold and bacteria helps to keep your family safer and healthier.
Liability
You know your tree is dead, right? Which means that any of the above occurrences are something you knew was possible and could have prevented. Even if you’re “lucky” enough that your fallen dead tree might only damage someone’s roof, car, or other property, you’d be 100% liable for not having dealt with the known risk. It’s not worth taking that chance.
The Solution
When you’ve got a dead tree in your yard, know that it’s an urgent situation. Call your local tree removal company TODAY for advice on having your tree removed, professionally and safely. Here in Cincinnati, you can call us here at Tree Images for a professional opinion on how to handle your dead tree. When we’re working on your tree removal, it’ll be our insurance that kicks in if any damage is done, and you’ll rest easy knowing you’ve done everything you can to keep your home and your family healthy and safe.
