Hazard Tree Recognition and Management
What is a hazard tree?
Trees or parts of trees which are structurally weakened may pose a threat to people and property. Check the trees near your home and yard for the following signs:
- Dead or dying, poorly attached limbs.
- Old wounds and obvious signs of decay (fungal conks, hollow trunks)
- Leaning trees or cracks in soil which indicate root movement
- Yellowing, reddening or thinning foliage. (Note: Some discoloration and loss of older foliage is normal. Most conifers have some foliage near the interior of branches which turns yellow or reddish and drops from the tree each fall. This may be more pronounced in drought years. It may be very noticeable in pines and cedars.)
- Shortened height growth or sudden large crop of cones (often indicates root disease).
- Signs of root damage (including excavation in the root zone or compaction, pavement, or fill over the root zone.)
Photo by: Joseph LaForest, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
If the problem is confined to a single branch, corrective pruning may solve the problem. If all or most of the tree is affected, removal is likely necessary. Trees which exhibit symptoms of overall decline can rarely be saved. You can obtain information about the most common tree problems in your area by contacting your local WSU Extension office. A professional consulting forester can help you diagnose sick and dying trees in your forest. A professional arborist can help confirm a diagnosis and determine whether a tree near your home or in your yard is a hazard and should be removed. Check your yellow pages and look for individuals or firms that employ ISA Certified Arborists.
Hazard tree management
If you have hazard trees consider converting the tree to a short snag or wildlife tree as an alternative to complete removal. Cut the tree to a height to which it will not hit a structure if it falls. As the tree decays, many species of birds and mammals may utilize the tree for forage and shelter. See Tips for Creating Snags [link], later in this publication. Another alternative is to have the tree felled and left in place. The downed woody debris will provide additional wildlife habitat.
Learn more:
How to Recognize and Prevent Tree Hazards, a publication produced by the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) ]
The Hazard Tree Prevention Webpage, produced by the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
Photo by: Jim Johnson, Oregon State University
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