How to Protect Evansville Property from Falling Trees

Here in Evansville, we are often subjected to storms, high winds, and lightning. But these blessings from Mother Nature don’t come without their risks—especially for our homes and properties! Falling trees and branches can cause significant damage to roofs, siding, windows, and other parts of our homes.

So if you’re a homeowner or business owner in Evansville, it’s important to take steps to protect your property from falling trees and branches. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the best:

Inspect After Every Storm

It is important to inspect your Evansville property after every storm, both in order to identify any existing damage and potential risks posed by trees and branches that may have been weakened or damaged by the weather.

Inspections should focus on the immediate area, including checking around the foundation of buildings and any nearby trees. Look for signs of damage including broken, bent, split or missing limbs, leaves or branches as this could indicate that part or all of a tree has been weakened or compromised in some way. Removing any debris from around the area can also be helpful in ensuring all potential dangers are identified.

If you observe any signs of limb fractures, cracks or splitting of tree trunks it is important to take immediate action to remove these sections and contact a professional arborist for further evaluation and assistance with resolving the issue.

Size Up Large Branches

When assessing trees and large branches near your property, be sure to inspect the area for signs of decay. Branches with many cracks, dead leaves, or horizontal lines of decay along the trunk and limbs should be immediately evaluated by a certified arborist or tree expert. Dead branches are more prone to falling and can cause serious damage.

Additionally, look for objects such as wires, electric lines or power tanks which could have been affected if a large branch were to fall.

Be sure to also take note of any contact points between branches. Branches in contact with each other can put increased strain on both limbs and increase the likelihood of them buckling during heavy winds or weather events. Should you find branches appearing to be in contact with each other, use the three-finger test to measure the distance between them – if they are less than three fingers apart then there is significant concern that they can put pressure on your roof or other parts of your property if they should fall in high winds. Contact tree services in Evansville immediately if you find these issues on your property.

Keep Track of Your Trees’ Health

Trees naturally reach the end of their life when they can no longer withstand the weather, fungal and pest populations, or even age. In order for property owners in Evansville to protect their land from weak and declining trees, it is essential to stay on top of regular tree care practices. Performing basic maintenance such as watering, mulching and pruning can help keep your trees healthy.

Providing adequate water during dry periods is key to keeping trees healthy and safe; however, over-watering can cause the soil to compact and restrict access to oxygen or fill with water that makes roots sitting in it starve for oxygen. If a tree is stressed, fertilizing may be necessary; but too much fertilizer can be detrimental as well! The right application will promote deeper root growth while helping stimulate good overall health.

Pruning can also be important in helping maintain a strong structure as trees age and limbs become weak due to age, pest activity or disease. By removing dead or broken branches and thinning overcrowded ones that may interfere with each other’s growth, you will be able to reduce the risks associated with falling branches caused by gusty Evansville winds.

Tracking the health of your trees is essential in identifying any structural decline so that additional treatment such as cabling systems or additional pruning may be needed before weakened parts could fall and damage your property. Working with a certified tree service specialist in Evansville ensures you are making knowledge-based decisions about each tree’s current condition and any long-term needs which could help protect your property from dangerously falling branches or trees.

Plant Strategically

When it comes to protecting your Evansville property from falling trees and branches, planting with the future in mind and choosing the right tree species for the area is an important step. Planting a variety of species with different growth rates means that it will be easier to prune your trees, as they require less frequent attention and are less likely to be damaged in high winds.

When selecting trees, pay attention to characteristics like growth rate, disease resistance, root structure, and ability to withstand windy conditions. Plant hardwood trees like oaks or maples that have deep root systems tread firmly in the ground. Avoid planting overhanging species like willows or poplars because their shallow roots can be easily uprooted by strong winds or high rains which could cause them to fall. Make sure there is adequate space between each tree so that they don’t compete for resources or block sunlight from reaching other plants.

It is also important to maintain a healthy distance between potential locations of power lines and large established trees. Smaller saplings can often grow too close for comfort when near power lines, so it’s best to plant away from those places if possible. Also consider planting small shrubs around foundation plantings; these shrubs can act as a “fence” and reduce pressure on larger trees when they cast a shadow on your home during storms.

Consider Necessary Tree Removals

Tree removal is often necessary to protect your property from fallen tree branches, limbs or whole trees. It’s important to consider the possibility of having trees or branches, that have grown weak and could possibly fall onto your property in a storm. Homeowners can avoid unnecessary damage to their property by getting proactive and addressing this potential problem before it becomes an issue.

To assess if any of your trees are at risk of becoming dangerous you should evaluate all the nearby trees on your property and neighboring ones if they pose risk when they reach full maturity. You will want to look for signs that a tree has become unhealthy such as dead or broken branches, exposed roots, fungus present, cracks in the trunk etc. If any of these signs are present then professional help may be needed to evaluate if the tree should be removed before it poses a threat.

If you decide removal is necessary then put together a plan that covers how you will remove the tree safely and clean up afterwards. Professional arborists can help guide you through this process and offer advice on whether only certain branches should be removed or if the entire tree should be taken out completely. They also have access to specialized equipment such as cranes for large and difficult removals which can ensure safety for yourself and your property during the process.

Maintain Desirable Trees Properly

Maintaining desirable trees properly is the best way to protect Evansville property from the damages caused by falling trees and branches. It is important to remove dead, dying, and hazardous trees, prune branches that are close to buildings or power lines and remove any sucker growth from the base of the tree. Additionally, inspect diseased or insect-damaged trees for necessary treatment, or possibly even removal if needed.

Trees should be regularly monitored for signs of distress such as excess fungal fruiting bodies or branch dieback in order to address any potential problems early on before they become catastrophic. Regular fertilization, mulching and watering are also important maintenance tasks that help keep your valuable landscape trees in healthy condition.

FAQs about Protecting Your Evansville Property from Falling Trees

Evansville is home to many mature trees, making it important that property owners take action to protect their properties from falling trees and branches. To help foster preventative measures in this area, here are answers to some frequently asked questions about protecting your Evansville property from falling trees and branches.

How do I know if a tree is at risk of falling limbs or entire structure?

A tree service professional can assess the risk of any tree. Factors such as age, location, soil composition, root health, disease and pest infestations can all influence a tree’s stability. Signs that may indicate an unstable or unhealthy tree include dead branches near the top of a canopy or diseased foliage on one side.

What steps can I take to minimize damage from storm damage?

Properly pruning dead or diseased branches and limbs will help reduce the risk of storm-related damages to your property. Additionally, you should inspect your trees for signs of rot or insect damage before bad weather strikes in order to remove any hazardous trees ahead of time when possible. Also consider building protective fencing around vulnerable plantings such as shrubs and small shade trees in order to protect them before inclement weather arrives.

Are there any options for reinforcing my existing trees?

Cabling systems can be installed on mature specimens in order to minimize stress on weak branches and the overall structure of the tree. If necessary, these cables can also be used after storms have hit in order to bring back balance within an unstable canopy structure. Wideners may also be installed along major trunk columns which helps stabilize lateral movement during severe storms and wind events.

Conclusion

Falling trees and branches can cause serious damage to your property, but there are a few steps you can take to help protect it. Have your trees professionally inspected and trimmed to get rid of any dead wood, clear away any vegetation that could serve as a foothold for pests, and be sure to secure any possible entry points. Additionally, you should take steps to minimize potential damage from falling debris–regularly check and clean up debris around your home, maintain proper balance around your property, install wind breaks when possible, identify weak limbs or growth areas for removal or treatment with pruning oil treatments.

Utilizing these tips will ensure that your Evansville property remains safe from falling tree and branch damage for many years to come.