We Aussies are no strangers to storms, strong winds, and heavy rain. In fact, according to some scientists, the intensity and frequency of storms could get even worse in the future. What this could mean is that there is a possibility of that occasional storm to take down trees, including the one/ones that you might have in your yard. Trees provide many benefits, they are an aesthetically pleasing addition and provide wonderful natural shade, but during storms, they can fall and create a dangerous situation. This could happen for a variety of reasons – winds can uproot a tree, while heavy rains can leave the ground wet resulting in trees collapsing more easily.
But even trees that are down on the ground can pose a danger and require emergency tree care. That’s because trees are still being attached to their roots on one side and there is still a lot of pressure, that is forcing one going back into position. This is why it can pose danger and damage your property, injure a friend, family member or pet that might happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. In a situation like this, it’s important to have the tree removed as soon as possible.
Although DIY emergency tree care removal might seem like the quickest and cheapest solution, you should never attempt to remove a tree on your own. Firstly, do you know whether you are actually allowed to cut down a tree by yourself in your area? According to Australian law, each state and local council has unique rules regarding the removal of trees. So, think twice and check the rules before you undertake such a delicate task.
Secondly, removing a tree by yourself is not recommended because handling chainsaws and other power tools can be very dangerous if you are a novice and when the surface is still slippery after the storm. Even if you have had used this tool before to cut down a standing tree, it’s highly likely to get your chainsaw stuck while cutting a fallen tree that’s laying horizontally.
Thirdly, what many homeowners fail to consider is how will they manage the amount of cut wood and the difficulty they are likely to encounter when trying to dispose of it properly. Cutting a tree can get really messy, and all that debris will be left in your yard. The woody debris is quite an eyesore, can represent a fire hazard and it can become food and habitat for different pests.
Instead, what you should do is consult a professional for an emergency tree care. Arborists have the right knowledge (they study botany, biology, agro-management, and environmental science) in order to perform the task of successfully removing a fallen tree. These professionals wear a variety of protective garments and accessories that protect them from injuries when handling dangerous tools and they have been properly trained on how to operate with tools and machines like the chainsaws. They have years of expertise, understand the fallen-tree physics and will clean up after the tree is being removed since part of the experts’ job is also to dispose of the waste for you. This way, you can quickly get back to enjoying your clean landscape. Moreover, they are ready to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so they can take care of a fallen tree right after your call.
Keeping the trees in your yard healthy and structurally sound can help minimize accidents before the storm. If they are showing strange visual signs like fungal activity at the base of the tree, sudden lean, deep splits through the barks, leaves falling off more than the expected at the wrong time of the year – these are just some of the symptoms that can increase the likelihood of the tree falling during a storm or strong wind. Arborists can complete a health tree assessment report to inspect the state of the tree, find out exactly what’s preventing it to thrive properly and come up with the right solution.
This is why you don’t have to wait for a storm or accident to happen to turn to professionals. Although there is no guarantee that under the right conditions a tree won’t fail, you should call an arborist for a check-up to evaluate your tree’s potential for failure.