Leaves are changing color, the temperature is dropping and the sun is setting earlier. What this means for your landscaping will depend on the elements and types of plants that make up your space, but if you have trees on your property, it’s a great time to do a quick inspection.

With how busy life can get and our attention focused down at our phones more and more, it’s a good time of the year to take a gaze upward and assess your trees. This initial assessment doesn’t need to be done by an arborist, it can consist of you walking around your property and taking a good, hard look at your trees. Many branch failures and even some tree failures have clear indications prior to the actual event. Some branches can be cracked or hanging in the canopy, while trees can show heaving in the ground or cracking in the trunk. Here is a quick checklist to use when reviewing your property. Make sure to spend extra time on trees that hang over your house or car.

  1. Are there any hanging branches or branches that appear to be dead?
  2. Are there any visible cracks in the tree or branches? (Tip: use binoculars to get a better look!)
  3. Are there any areas around your trees where the ground appears to be lifting or heaving?
  4. Are there any newly exposed roots that have previously been buried or areas of soil erosion that could destabilize the tree’s root system?
  5. Are there any trees that appear to be dead?
  6. Are there any trees that have historically dropped branches in the winter?
  7. Are there any trees that appear to be leaning or tilting more than usual?
  8. Are there any trees that have branches touching a structure or house?
  9. Are there any areas of rotten wood or cavities on the tree?
  10. Is there a large number of mushrooms or fungi growing at the bottom of the tree?
  11. Is there a black oily substance oozing from the tree or a large new amount of sap drop?

Depending on your findings it may be time to bring in a tree service company or ISA certified arborist. This self-assessment is to help generate an overall understanding of the safety condition of your trees and see if it’s time to call in the pros. It’s very important to look at what the potential damage could be. For example: if a tree is in the middle of a large field, a branch failure may not be an issue but if the tree is hanging over your house, driveway, or walkway, it may be worth calling a professional out if you suspect any type of potential issue.

I hope this helps everyone pause for a moment and evaluate the trees on your property. I think we tend to take trees and their value for granted, have you ever driven by an intersection after they removed a large tree? There’s usually a negative impact to the environment when trees are removed. When you go outside to look at your trees, take some time to appreciate their beauty!