Would you get on a plane that had never been inspected? Would you buy a house or a used car without getting it checked out? Would you eat at a restaurant knowing the health department has never set foot inside? Of course not! So why would you let your trees go without a regular tree health inspection? Trees are a major part of most homeowners’ landscapes and ensuring they are healthy helps keeps everyone safe. Routine tree health inspections are necessary to stop small tree problems from becoming big tree problems.
What Is A Tree Health Inspection?
A tree health inspection is a thorough assessment of a tree’s overall health, performed by a licensed tree expert. The primary purpose of a tree health inspection is to evaluate the tree’s health, identify any potential issues or safety hazards, determine any tree needs, and recommend appropriate actions to maintain or improve the health of your trees.
During the inspection, your tree care professional will evaluate the the tree’s structure and the surrounding soil and root system. They’ll also evaluate the tree’s overall health by inspecting the bark, branches, leaves, and more.
Why You Should Get Your Trees Inspected Regularly
A tree inspection is like an annual checkup with a doctor. It provides a baseline for the health of your trees which can point out bigger problems or risks. Tree inspections are essential because they:
- Are a Health Checkup: Trees, like any living thing, are subject to diseases, pest infestation, and environmental stressors. Regular tree inspections can help detect any signs of disease or decline early on, allowing for fast intervention to preserve the tree’s health.
- Ensure Safety of Your Trees: Trees can pose risks to property and people if they are diseased, damaged, or have structural problems. Regular inspections can identify any potential hazards such as dead branches, weak limbs, or root issues that might lead to falling or instability.
- Are Preventative Maintenance: By identifying and addressing issues early, regular tree inspections can prevent more significant problems from developing. Pruning or removing diseased or damaged tree branches, for example, can prevent them from falling and causing property damage during storms or high winds.
- Ensure Longevity: Healthy trees enhance property value and contribute to the aesthetic appeal of your landscaping. Regular tree inspections and appropriate tree care can prolong the life of trees, allowing them to thrive and continue providing benefits for many years.
- Help You Meet Any Legal Requirements: In some towns, homeowners may have a legal responsibility to maintain trees on their property to prevent them from becoming a hazard to others. Regular tree inspections can help ensure compliance with local ordinances and reduce potential liability risks.
- Reduce Your Environmental Impact: Trees play a vital role in our environment by providing oxygen, filtering carbon dioxide, and supporting biodiversity. Regular tree inspections can help identify any threats to the tree’s health and take steps to lessen them, contributing to overall sustainability efforts.
Types Of Tree Inspections
There are several different types of tree inspections that can be conducted depending on what your goals are. Each type of inspection has a specific purpose and requires different expertise. Only a licensed tree expert or a certified arborist should be performing your tree inspections. The professionals at Taylor Expert Arborists perform all of these types of tree inspections:
- Visual Inspections: Visual inspections involve a thorough examination of the tree’s overall health, structure, and surroundings. This type of inspection can be conducted from the ground or may require climbing for a closer look. Visual inspections can identify obvious signs of disease, pest infestations, and structural problems.
- Health Assessments: Tree health assessments focus specifically on evaluating the overall health of the tree. This includes examining the foliage for signs of discoloration, leaf wilting, or abnormal growth patterns. Health assessments can also involve checking for the presence of fungi, pests, or diseases that could be affecting the tree’s vitality.
- Structural Assessments: Structural assessments focus on evaluating the stability and integrity of the tree’s trunk, branches, and root systems for any structural problems. This type of inspection involves examining the tree for signs of decay, cracks, splits, or other damage that could compromise the tree’s stability. Structural assessments are crucial for identifying potential hazards and determining the need for corrective measures such as pruning or trimming or support systems like cabling and bracing.
- Risk Assessments: Risk assessments evaluate the potential risks posed by a tree to people, property, or nearby infrastructure. This type of inspection considers factors such as the tree’s location, size, condition, and the likelihood of failure. Risk assessments help prioritize tree management actions and determine the level of risk reduction measures needed. Learn more about risk assessments here (link to Risk page).
- Diagnostic Assessments: Diagnostic assessments involve identifying specific diseases, pests, or environmental stressors affecting your trees. A diagnostic assessment may require collecting samples for laboratory analysis or consulting with plant pathologists for expert diagnosis. Diagnostic assessments are necessary for developing targeted treatment plans to address a specific disease or pest infestation.
- Routine Maintenance Inspections: Routine maintenance inspections are conducted on a regular basis to monitor the overall health and condition of trees over time. These inspections help identify changes or developments that may require intervention and allow for proactive maintenance to preserve tree health and mitigate risks.
How Do I Get an Estimate For a Tree Health Inspection?
Contact Taylor Expert Arborists at the phone number, email, or the link below to request an estimate. Taylor Expert Arborists always provides free quotes in writing and includes any recommendations for tree trimming or tree removal. We have a wide range of tree pruning and tree removal equipment and safety equipment to properly perform any pruning or trimming services necessary as a result of the tree health inspection, and we always take into account accessibility and property preservation when bringing in equipment.
Taylor Expert Arborists always provides its customers with an easy-to-read written contract that protects the homeowner and tree service, spelling out pricing, payment terms, and everything that is included with the work.
I’ve Hired Taylor Expert Arborists, Now What?
So, you’ve made the smart decision to hire Taylor Expert Arborists to perform a tree health inspection, now how do you prepare for a tree health inspection?
- Communicate with Your Neighbors: If the tree inspection may impact neighboring homeowners or if there are shared trees, inform your neighbors about the upcoming inspection. Discuss any concerns they may have and arrange access to their property if necessary.
- Clear the Work Area: Remove any obstacles or obstructions near the tree, such as vehicles, outdoor furniture, or garden decorations. Clearing the area around the tree will give the tree service ample space to work and maneuver equipment safely.
- Be Available for Communication: Ensure that you or another responsible person will be available on your property during the tree inspection process to answer any questions, provide access to the property, and address any unexpected issues that may arise with the tree service company.
- Keep Pets and Children Inside: Keep pets and children indoors or away from the work area during tree inspection to ensure their safety. Loud noises and heavy equipment can be frightening or dangerous for animals and young children.
- Follow the Safety Guidelines: Follow any safety guidelines or instructions provided by the tree service to ensure the safety of everyone involved. You must stay clear of the work area! If you want to watch the tree service, you may be required to wear the appropriate safety gear and following any temporary access or traffic control measures.
Taylor Expert Arborists are hard-working tree care experts with years of experience, and offer tree inspection services and recommendations for next steps. We are family-owned and offer residential, commercial, and municipal tree trimming and pruning services, tree removal services, tree maintenance, stump grinding, cabling and bracing services, tree health assessments, tree risk assessments, and emergency services. Taylor Expert Arborists are members of the New Jersey ISA and the New Jersey Society of Licensed Tree Experts.
Contact Us
We provide FREE consultations to all our clients! Taylor Expert Arborists always provides its customers with an easy-to-read written contract that protects the homeowner and tree service, spelling out pricing, payment terms, and everything that is included with the work.
