With the dry season approaching, is there any concern that your trees might be a hazard? You may have seen brush encroaching on the house or an accumulation of dead branches. The question is whether you are aware of what to put a stop to before it becomes a bigger issue.
We of Tree Police put our 25 years in the tree service industry and intimate knowledge of the local terrain to work for homeowners in Cedar Rapids, IA and vicinity. We have been a part of this community since 2012. To discuss the matter with us, pick up the phone at (319) 448-3955.
Fire mitigation is simply a way of taking away the fuel fire needs to get going, and one has to be on the lookout for warning signs on the property to do it right. Here is how to tell.
Dead or Dying Trees
There is no mistaking it: dead wood is dry and will burn quickly. An out of season leafless tree, one with cracked bark or that has shed large limbs, is something you would do well to pay attention to.
Indications a tree is on its way out include:
- Branches with no leaves in the growing season
- Peeling or split bark
- Fungus and mushrooms at the base
- Limbs so brittle they break with little effort
- A trunk that has begun to lean
- Any rot you can see or hollows
For one thing a dead tree is a danger because it is ready fuel for a fire; for another it can come down without any notice.
Ladder Fuels and Overgrown Brush
Fire will climb if given the chance. Tall grass and low shrubs make a connection from the ground up to the canopy of the tree, forming a ladder fuel by which a fire can ascend and gain speed.
Should you have thick brush around your trees or branches low to the ground, you are making it easy for fire to move up. Raising the lower canopy and putting in some clearing work will put an end to that.
Proximity to Structures
See how near your trees are to the home, deck, garage or fence. A branch overhanging or in contact with the roof is a cause for alarm, as is a tree put in too tight to an outside wall.
It is not hard to put right with some pruning or outright removal. You want a buffer between the building and the tree for when things get dry.
An Excess of Debris and Leaves
The ground is often overlooked by the homeowner. All those pine needles, old leaves and yard debris are just as much fuel as anything else. Let them build up at the foot of a tree or against the side of your home and the risk goes up.
You will find these types of buildup:
- Gutters and roof valleys full of leaf litter
- Woodpiles up against the house
- Unkempt garden beds close to the structure
- Dry needles amassing around trunks
- Fallen limbs left where they are
Some routine cleanup will prevent the fuel from piling up.
Trees in Each Other’s Way
If the canopies of two trees are touching and the branches overlap, fire makes short work of jumping from one to the other. By thinning out a crowded stand you put some space in between, which can be what stops a fire from running through your yard.
Leftover Storm Damage
Cedar Rapids has had its fair share of bad weather. Broken or split branches and hanging limbs from an old storm are still a problem. They are unstable and dry. Put an end to the damage and you remove the fuel and the possibility of a fall.
Make a Move Before the Dry Season Sets In
A property left to itself is not as well off as one that has been thinned and put in order. When you wait for conditions to become hazardous you are left with limited options.
Dustin Carson, a Cedar Rapids man all his life, put together Tree Police to put food on the table for his family. As a locally run operation we treat our neighbors with the kind of care and honest service you would expect, and at a fair price. We have a 100% guarantee on our work, free estimates and a 10 percent off for our veterans and those who come back to us. For an emergency we are here round the clock.
Any of the above has caught your eye? Do not put it off. Our crew at Tree Police is standing by to put your mind at ease and see to the protection of your family and property. (319) 448-3955.