Trees are generally strong and resilient if they are properly cared for, however they aren’t immune to failure. Advanced age, severe storms, poor pruning, pests and soil problems can all weaken a tree over time.

To the untrained eye, tree failure appears unpredictable and sudden however experienced Arborists can predict issues long before a tree falls over.  Here is how Arborists assess risk and how it can help you as a property owner.

What Is Tree Failure?

Tree failure, also commonly known as tree fall or tree collapse is the sudden dropping or falling over of an entire tree or its branches, which, depending on its size, can result in significant damage or injury. Tree failure is a natural phenomenon that can happen due to a number of reasons from pests and disease to storms and soil problems.

How Arborists Assess Risk

Arborists start by doing a visual tree assessment, which involves examining the tree from top to bottom, looking for any external signs that may indicate internal weakness. Your Arborist will assess a number of factors such as:

• The amount of dead or dying branches
• Presence of cracks, bulges or splits in the trunk and major limbs
• Missing or peeling bark
• Presence of fungus or mushrooms
• The overall shape and balance of the tree
• Whether the trunk is leaning
• Signs of sudden changes in the direction of growth
• Poor branch attachments
• Condition of the soil – cracked or waterlogged, root plate lifting
• Past pruning cuts
• Canopy density

These issues can be an indication of ill health and structural issues but not always, as not all trees respond to stress and age in the same way.

Once the visual assessment of the tree itself has been carried out, the Arborist will take into account other factors such as:

• The tree’s age
• The tree’s expected growth rate
• Exposure to storms, wind and weather extremes
• Tree species-specific failure patterns
• Any history of drought, flooding or pest damage
• Drainage to the area
• Any building works being done around the tree or changes to its surroundings

Using Advanced Tools

If your Arborist suspects your tree may be at risk and is particularly high risk, they may choose to use a range of more advanced diagnostic tools and equipment to further assess the tree. Resistance drills, sonic tomography and root investigations are some of the options that will give a clearer picture of exactly what is going on with the tree to assess internal decay and structural soundness.

Hire An Arborist

If you think you could have a tree at risk of failure, it’s best not to delay or take any chances. Hire a qualified, experienced Arborist to do a visual assessment and give you advice on what action, if any, needs to be taken to keep your tree strong and safe, for your peace of mind and the safety of your home and family.

For all your professional consulting arborist and tree maintenance needs, speak to the team at Aussie Tree Solutions today. We have been providing expert tree care and maintenance services for over forty years and we offer a full range of services from tree pruning and tree removal to Consulting Arborist services. Whatever your tree issue – we’ll get to the root of it!