3 Common Tree Maintenance & Removal Questions Answered
When it comes to tree maintenance and removal, many people think that they know enough to get by. However, there are a certain few situations where professional help is required in order to avoid getting yourself into a sticky situation. Below are three common tree maintenance and removal questions and the truth behind them:
Who is Responsible if Your Tree Falls in a Neighbor's Yard?
Planting trees in your backyard can be a great way to increase the attractiveness of your property. Not only this, but trees can greatly add to the environment of a suburban neighborhood, offering your neighbors the benefit of living in a more appealing area. However, trees can also cause disputes between neighbors, particularly if your large, leafy conifer has just fallen over into their yard.
Fallen trees can be a real headache; if the tree has fallen from your property into a neighbor's back yard, who is responsible for damages? Well, unfortunately, there isn't a straightforward answer to this. Rather, it depends entirely on the circumstances. Specifically:
- If a tree has fallen due to an "act of God", such as extreme wind or lightning, your neighbor's insurance provider is usually liable for damages. Of course, this depends on the extent of any home insurance they have taken out; however, you can rest assured that the invoice won't be slipped into your family's mailbox.
- If a tree has fallen due to your own negligence, you are responsible for damages. If the collapsed tree was dying when it fell over, you will have to foot the sizable bill for damage to your neighbor's property.
Trees are a rather sturdy force of nature, so it will take an extremely bad storm to rip them from their roots. Typically, fallen trees are due to owner's negligence, so it's vitally important that you practice proper tree maintenance in order to avoid facing a big bill.
What Should You Do About a Tree Near Power Lines?
Most trees growing in a backyard don't pose any significant dangers and can be left alone quite peacefully. However, if you have overhead power lines near the tip of your tree, you may need to cut the tree to avoid a hazardous situation arising. Branches that start to interfere with overhead power cables can cause cables to spark, increasing the risk of a stray branch catching fire. While unlikely, this could ignite a fire if a few branches get caught in the way.
With that said, the biggest threat from overhead power cables is that branches become tangled in the cables and cause a disruption in the local neighborhood's electricity supply. If it seems like your backyard conifer could get itself in some cable-induced trouble, you'll likely have to cut the tree down, or at least shorten it somehow.
Now, before you head to your shed to look out your strongest saw, consider the hazards involved in carrying out a DIY tree surgery. Accidentally contacting electrical cables and other equipment could cause serious injury, if not death. It's best to call the professionals. In many cases, your neighborhood's electricity supplier will cut the tree down on your behalf. However, if they do not oblige to this, contact a professional tree removal company rather than attempt to carry out the job on your own.
What Can You Do About Aphids on Your Trees?
Many people consider fungi and rot to be the biggest threat to a tree's vitality. However, in many cases, the biggest threat comes from insects. Specifically, from aphids.
Many people simply don't notice these tiny creatures as they are often invisible to the naked eye. Think of them as your tree's own version of bed bugs, only much more dangerous. These tiny little creatures survive by sucking out all of the plant sap in the tree bark and then attacking branch stems, buds and leaves in a scurry to survive. They cause your trees to turn a light shade of yellow, and, once they have fed on the sap, leave a sticky substance similar to honeydew.
Thankfully, aphids aren't difficult to remove once you spot them, so consider the following proven methods to tackling these creatures:
- Spray the leaves with special insecticide soaps that you can buy from specialist retailers.
- Spray cold water on the leaves. Whilst this won't be as effective as chemical solutions, it will be enough to remove most of the creatures.
- Buy insects such as wasps or beetles that actively hunt aphids. If you don't fancy buying these insects, you can grow plants in your garden that naturally attract these aphid-preying creatures.
In some cases, aphid-induced damage can cause your tree to rot and fade away. Sometimes, it's simply too late to intervene, and your best option is to contact a professional tree removal company like All Season Tree Service to get rid of the deadwood.
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