You might be thinking, tree assessment and inspection are only for fallen trees or emergency cases. Well, you’re wrong. Just like a doctor’s checkup, trees need an arborist for a health assessment and to prevent any disease. The overall health and beauty of trees improve when tree health is tested on a regular basis. In this blog, you’ll get to learn expert advice on tree inspection, how frequently they are needed.
The Hidden Importance of Tree Health for Homeowners
We all know trees are important for our living. But for homeowners? Let’s take a look at how tree health benefits a homeowner-
- Trees are living assets. They increase the market value of your home, in addition to cooling, providing shade, and increasing curb appeal
- A properly placed tree reduces cooling costs.
- A diseased tree in your backyard can spread to your pets, eventually creeping into your home.
- A dead or weakened tree has a high chance of falling. It can damage your house, driveway, patio, or even accidents.
- Emergency tree removal is much more costly than a tree health assessment. This can also prevent any major accident by eliminating the root cause.
What Tree Health Assessment and Inspection Services Include
Structure inspection
Tree service experts look for visible structure abnormalities. We mostly see large trees fall during storms and damage residential property. Arborists inspect these trees prior to a storm, which reduces the damage dramatically. They also check the root collar, branch structure for any asymmetry. In many cases, an asymmetrical tree has a higher chance of falling down. The branch may fall without any signs. Tree inspectors prevent these occurrences by inspecting the structure.
Soil and root evaluation
Tree health assessment explores soil and root health. As we know, tree nutrients come from the soil through the roots. If the root is unhealthy, cracked, or decayed, the tree poses a risk of dying and eventually falling. Tree health testing also includes soil quality, nutrient composition, and identifying deficient nutrients.
Disease and pest detection
Pathogen attacks and insects make a large tree vulnerable. Arborists check for discolored foliage, holes in the trunk made by insects, and signs of disease. Detecting early disease signs, like emerald borer or Oak wilt, saves the tree from dying.
Risk assessment
Arborists assess a risky tree by category-low, medium, or high risk. Then they evaluate the possible damage that the risky tree can cause. Bracing, cabling, and tree pruning are methods an arborist takes to prevent damage. These tree doctors also prescribe measures which homeowners can take to save their property and life.
Advance tree health testing
Apart from regular structural assessment and tree health testing, arborists also have advanced testing methods to detect a faulty tree. Resistograph is one of these advanced tree health testing methods. It drills through a tree trunk to measure the resistance. When resistance suddenly becomes zero, it means a decay or hollow part is growing inside a tree. There is also sonic tomography, which allows arborists to measure tree density through sound waves. These tools require certified and expert arborists.
The Benefits of Regular Tree Health Testing and Inspections
Enhanced safety
Regularly assessing tree health can detect a faulty, weak, or damaged and decayed tree. A weak tree branch that may break anytime is a high risk for any homeowner. When tree health experts assess each branch, canopy, and trunk, they can warn the owner and take proper precautions. So this is a safety protocol for homeowners.
Cost saving
Emergency tree removal service is a risky procedure. It requires more experts, and on short notice. So naturally, the process is much more costly than an arborist’s fee. An arborist or tree expert can detect a tree way before it falls. They also take preventive measures to treat the tree. So it doesn’t need removing, saving you a lot of bucks, also keeping the tree.
Extending tree lifespan
A tree can live up to 100 years. A mature tree adds value to your property, in addition to magnificent beauty. A regular tree health assessment ensures the tree gets proper nutrition. The soil quality and roots remain healthy. Arborists care for your trees, so they can live their lifespan.
Legal protection
A certified arborist provides you with legal written documents for your tree. So if any neighborhood dispute occurs due to a tree emergency, it resolves the issue. The arborist’s document protects you from any legal claims related to the tree.
Environmental and community benefits
A mature tree supports a whole ecosystem. Tree health assessment and inspection not only keeps your home safe, but it also increases the community’s beauty, and keeps the community’s people safe.
How Often Should Homeowners Schedule Tree Health Assessments?
Homeowners should schedule a tree health assessment once a year. However, it depends on tree health, tree age, and past history of tree disease, and finally, the frequency of storms and snow in your area.
A mature, large tree is more susceptible to disease and decay. So, depending on the circumstances, homeowners may need to hire arborists twice a year for these old trees.
When to schedule a tree health assessment?
- Planning of home renovation
- When buying a new home or property
- Visual insect attack or parasite near the tree
- Planting a new tree to ensure proper growth and nutrition
- When you have a mature old tree to protect the heritage
The Expert Advantage: Why Professional Services Matter
Tree health assessment is a proven method to improve tree health, only when it’s done by experts. Only ISA-certified arborists can perfectly assess or test the tree’s health. They are equipped with professional tools and skills to begin with. To get the full advantage of tree inspection, you need to hire a professional service.
Monkeyman’s Tree Service only hires ISA-certified arborists- a team filled with skilled workers. We are the award-winning tree service company based in Portland, OR. Our team has been in this field since 2008. Our professional service aims to care for trees in every possible way.
Conclusion
Wrapping up the article with thanks to trees, our sole provider of oxygen. It needs less to say tree health assessment and inspection service not only protects the tree, they protects the property of homeowners. Tree service ensures your property remains safe, with the magnificent beauty of trees. Contact Monkeyman’s Tree Service to hire a certified professional arborist in Portland.
FAQ
Are tree inspections legally required?
Many municipalities have rules to inspect old, mature trees to protect the property or community from any accidents.
Who should perform the tree health assessment and inspection service?
A certified tree service in your locality or independent ISA-certified arborists should perform a tree health assessment.