As beneficial as having trees in your yard can be, you must take dutiful care of them to ensure they don’t cause a tree emergency in the future. For example, foliage you use for shade one day could burst through your window the next without protective measures. Of course, a tree doesn’t usually become hazardous out of nowhere, and you can catch signs of a future problem early on.
As a trusted tree service in Nash, TX, Hawkins Tree and Landscaping specializes in preventive care and hazardous tree removal. Read more to learn how to identify and prevent tree-borne issues on your property.
Defining a Tree Emergency
A tree emergency refers to any instance where a tree becomes an immediate threat to your property, life, or that of others. These stalwart and sturdy plants can cause serious damage, especially during storms. Fires, proximity to power lines, and disease may also prompt immediate action to save yourself, your yard, or others.
Identifying the Potential for an Emergency
You may be able to notice the signs of a potential tree emergency before it happens. Review the examples below for tips on what to find and what to do when you find it.
Fires
A tree on fire is an immediate threat! Call 911 and get the fire department to come as soon as possible. What can cause a tree to catch fire?
- Drought: A drought can dry out a tree and make it more susceptible to catching fire from sudden occurrences, like brush fires. Watering around your tree can help keep the tree’s water content high and make it more resistant to catching fire.
- Lightning: It’s an age-old issue – heat, sparks, and bark can lead to ignition. Although you cannot stop lightning from striking a tree, you can watch out for smoking trees during thunderstorms.
- Power Lines: A tree growing too close to a power line may collide with important system parts and cause sparks, leading to a fire. Calling your power company or a tree care professional to trim or prune your tree can help fend off this issue. You may also need an expert to remove it, preventing a tree emergency.
Storm Damage
Trees and their branches can cause serious damage during a storm. A storm could also damage the tree, leading to future problems. Injuries from fallen trees or branches can be detrimental or even fatal.
Regularly check your trees to ensure they have solid structural integrity, as indicated by the following:
- No roots visible above ground
- A solid trunk without any cracks
- No dead, dying, or broken branches
- Anchored to the soil without leaning
- Dead leaves fall off the branches instead of staying on
If you notice the opposite, you can call an arborist to evaluate and care for your tree, whether that includes maintenance or removal. You should especially check them after a storm when the tree could’ve sustained damage.
Infestations and Diseases
While perhaps not immediately evident, diseases and infestations constitute a tree emergency. A diseased tree could spread illness to others nearby, weakening them and making them more likely to fall, break apart, or catch fire. The same goes for infestations; trees suffer during uncontrolled insect occupancy.
Call a trusted arborist if you notice:
- Holes in the bark
- Mushroom growth
- Sawdust around the trunk base
- Large sections of damaged leaves
- Unseasonal yellowing or browning leaves
Your Leading Tree Emergency Response Team
Our team at Hawkins Tree and Landscaping provides industry-leading tree services in the upper Texas and Texarkana areas. We identify and combat tree problems with intuitive solutions, including regular maintenance like pruning or trimming.
Don’t wait for an emergency – contact us today for a consultation and a free estimate.