How do you know if you have a tree at risk of falling?

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – The recent storms have brought down trees and power lines, which means it’s a good time to inspect the trees around your property as the weather alert continues

Trees are these huge structures that provide us with all these benefits around our homes and in our communities, but it’s incredibly challenging to tell if a tree is sick or dying especially if you don’t know how to recognize the signs.

When a tree sheds sticks all the time, it’s a sure sign that it’s not healthy. A tree that’s in good shape will have flexible branches and twigs, which don’t tend to break off. If your tree’s bark is flaking and peeling, it’s not receiving enough nutrients.

Like the human body, a tree has skin, which is the bark and the condition of the bark provides clues about underlying illnesses. Sometimes the trees that fall are perfectly healthy ones.

Nicole Keleher says it is important to get to know your trees and hire an arborist if you notice anything unusual, “the main thing that I suggest to people is hiring a certified arborist. Those are people that are knowledgeable on trees and many people take specialized training courses in risk assessment too. And they can help homeowner better identify what the risks of those trees are in the trees do you need to be removed.”

22News asked Keleher about cabling or adding tree ties to keep them in place but she says that it’s like putting a Band-Aid on a much bigger problem and it doesn’t always stop trees from falling or breaking. What she suggests is to pay close attention to any large trees around your home or property that way if there are any potential concerns you can have an arborist take a look at it and potentially cut it down to reduce the risk of it falling.

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