Addressing Hazardous Trees

Most landscape projects start with a landscape plan from a certified landscape architect. These plans take into account the number of trees that a municipality will require be planted during the development of the project. Based on this information, the architect will specify what trees will be planted and where they are to be planted.

Occasionally, an improper tree type is designated for a particular area. Such an example would be Bradford Pears planted near a building. Look at any building that was constructed in the early 1980’s and you will likely find large Bradford Pear trees planted near the building’s foundation. These trees take up enormous amounts of water from the soil and can cause uneven movement of a building’s slab as a result of moisture differences around the building. Most structural engineers Prestonwood Landscape has worked with suggest removing trees in this situation as soon as possible to prevent possible or further damage to foundations.

Another example of trees planted in an area that can be a hazard is Eastern Red Cedars planted between the building and head on parking spaces only a few feet away. Though these trees don’t present a problem for the buildings foundation, they do cause damage to automobiles parking in spaces nearby. This is because the trees simply outgrow (in diameter) the area they are planted in and begin encroaching on the parking spaces and buildings. Depending on the construction of the building this can also cause damage to exterior walls. These trees should be removed, and replaced with something less intrusive.

Tree maintenance is another consideration when planning or planting. Trees with branches within 8’ of the ground are considered hazardous to pedestrians walking on property – particularly if the trees are near designated walkways. Trees that have not been properly pruned tend to have large, heavy limbs that can fall during windstorms or bad weather. Also, improperly maintained trees can have dead limbs that can break easily, causing damage to automobiles, buildings or pedestrians. Finally, unpruned trees can potentially hinder security monitoring, blocking security lighting or cameras on a property.

Special attention should be given to the trees on your personal or commercial property. Most often an existing tree hazard can be eliminated with proper and frequent pruning of the tree. Trees that cannot be pruned should be removed immediately and replaced with less invasive trees that will not become a hazard. Though this can present additional short term costs, it is much less expensive than the liability that is presented when action is not taken.

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