Hazard trees can exist anywhere. A hazard tree can be defined as one that has rot, breakage or damage to the point that it should be cut down. Some signs can be obvious. Others? Not so much. I am an owner of two such trees after this weekend.
It started last Saturday night when I heard a loud cracking sound somewhere in the grove. The top of a tall willow broke off and is now hanging in the top of said tree. This, my friend, is commonly called a “widow maker.” Obviously not safe to picnic under, and it needs to be removed by professionals. The question that needs to be asked: “Why did it break off in the first place?” The arborist will hopefully be able to answer that from their perspective 30 feet in the air. The whole tree may be rotted.
Then Sunday, during the wind storm, I heard an even louder cracking sound. Right off a corner of my house, I could see a white line down the trunk (bark splitting) of my Autumn Blaze Maple. I stood there, safely in the house, and watched half of the 40-foot tree collapse to the ground. It’s obvious there was a split in the tree crotch where water had seeped in, causing the rotten black area.
Arborists are arriving this week and I will get their professional opinion, but it is likely that what’s left of this tree needs to come down. The side with all the weight would likely fall on the house in the next big storm.
It’s often hard to tell in advance if you have a potential hazard tree. Here are a few things to look for:
Does your tree have large areas where bark has sloughed off? Sloughed bark can be caused from a lightning strike or possibly started with a frost crack. A frost crack can cause different levels of damage as the tree recovers and grows. If the bark significantly peels back, you may consider replacing it. I would make a decision based on the tree’s importance in the landscape. Is it intended to be a prominent front yard tree or is it back of the border in a mixed grove of plants.
Does the tree have a lot of mushrooms growing on the sides or near the bottom? This could be a sign of interior rot. Do you see squirrels or wood ducks nesting in cavities of a tree? This would also indicate that some degree of rot has occurred to create a cavity. A cavity can start from disease and rot, or from a broken limb — especially if water gets into the area. Although the habitat is nice for the critters, your safety is more important!
Do woodpeckers spend a lot of time pecking at your trees? This would be an indicator that there are insects or larvae in the wood or under the bark layer. The birds are seeking the insects that likely have already caused damage. Insect damage can weaken a tree and the damage can lead to death or rot of a tree.
Wind storms can often cause branches to break off or crack. Ten years ago, three of my Autumn Blaze Maples lost the bulk of their crown in storms. Two recovered, and one was destroyed later after another storm. Because they are remote yard trees I left them. Had they been in a more public area of the yard I may have replaced them.
Winter is also a great time to have an arborist shape your trees. Then the ground is frozen and a large truck may do less damage driving across your yard. When working on downed trees, only one person should work on a tree at a time. Another person’s cuts can affect how a tree may shift or roll. When you are cutting with your chainsaw, you don’t want any unexpected movement. Pushing a tree with a tractor or other equipment can be successful but also dangerous. Pushing can cause tension that could spring back unexpectedly. Trees are the framework and the backbones of our landscape. Protecting them and keeping them healthy is critical.
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My next “Garden Open House” is scheduled for July 12. There should be numerous daylily varieties blooming by then, and many of the Asiatic lilies still hanging on, and lots of my collection for sale. Keep updated on my Facebook page at “Lakeside Gardens & more.” There will be a free garden class at 1 p.m. on digging, dividing and replanting iris.
The Mankato Farmer’s Market WILL be open July 4, and we will be there – so stop by!
The outdoor Mankato Farmer’s Market is open for the season — 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays, and 3-5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays — in the Best Buy parking lot on Adams Street in Mankato. We have nearly 50 vendors with a wide variety of goods and food items, produce, honey, flowers, plants, eggs and local meat!