Trees are all around us. They dominate the landscape and provide immeasurable beauty and benefits to us all. However, they also can be very big and heavy, and when they fail they have the potential to cause damage. Like us, they’re not all perfect; in order to insure they stay around for a long time and remain safe, they need to be managed and maintained properly. In our area we have over 120 native tree species, as well as hundreds of other species that humans have introduced into the landscape. All of these species have their own habits and abilities, and each individual tree is growing in a unique spot. If it’s growing over, under, or beside other trees, on a slope or in the flats, out in full sun or on the shady north side of a mountain, etc., all of these elements factor in to how every individual tree will grow and live. The storms they go through—droughts, floods, wind, snow— can change them. But most often the greatest impacts on trees are from humans and our activities.
A qualified arborist will have a good knowledge of area trees and how they grow, know their specific traits and be able to recognize health issues or structural defects that can impact safety or viability. Some problems can be mitigated, or a plan can be formulated to work towards a good resolution; with regular maintenance many problems can be avoided in the first place. If you have trees around your house, and would like to know how safe they are, have us take a look. Avoid the loss of beautiful trees and help protect your home from damage.
Michael Davie
ISA Board-Certified Master Arborist
Natural Resource Manager
Snow Creek Landscaping, LLC