The importance of tree inspections cannot be overstated.
I cannot estimate how many times I have been on a property to inspect some worrisome limb or tree that turns out to be in great condition, only to spot a dangerous situation during the walk back to my vehicle. Even a seemingly routine tree inspection can help avert disaster.
An example from the field…
I received a call to inspect a tree and provide an opinion for pruning a very large oak in a backyard. Upon arrival, I briefly met with the homeowner who said that the large oak in the backyard started to lose branches and needed a trim. He then invited me to, “Go look and tell me what you think.” With excitement, I navigated my way through the property to the massive oak tree. This is where things get bad…
The old oak’s trunk diameter was nearly eight feet across and the first limb was about 40 feet above the ground. This massive tree stood nearly 100 feet tall and spread across four backyards. The diameter of a few of the lower limbs was around three feet each, and a couple of the limbs were completely dead. Upon closer inspection of the tree, I found Hypoxylon canker (an opportunistic, often fatal infection) on the dead branches. Hoping that this beautiful and momentous tree could be saved, I began examining it very carefully. Sadly, I discovered that the infection had already spread to the main trunk, and infection-spots were visible everywhere throughout the crown.
Bracing myself for a very negative reaction, I subsequently explained to the owner the disease had already progressed to the point where the tree could not be saved. Much to my delight, I was not met with cannon-fire or verbal beratment . In fact, he thanked me, stating it would have cost thousands of dollars to prune the tree, only to have it die shortly thereafter. He further explained he had gotten several tree inspections with pruning estimates from arborists, and no one told him of the disease or that the tree was doomed.
I ensured that the tree’s owner clearly understood that the tree needed to be removed as soon as possible, and it would be more dangerous to remove once it was completely dead, thus more expensive given its size and lack of accessibility. We then shook hands and amicably parted ways.
I never heard from him again.
But that is not the end of the tree inspection story…
Several years had passed and I had forgotten all about the gentleman and his giant tree, when I received a call from a young couple. They explained that they had just purchased a home during winter and they think their tree may be sick. They then asked if I would inspect the tree and provide some advice. As I enjoy residential consulting, I was very eager to perform the tree inspection.
On the day of the appointment as I approached the couple’s home, I immediately remembered the prior tree inspection, and began thinking, “Please no, oh no, don’t let it be.” To my horror, the prior owner never removed the old tree, and the Hypoxylon ran its course. The tree was completely dead and now a towering monument to peril! It was a neighborhood nightmare: a massive, dead, and hazardous tree located over multiple houses, yards, wires, fences, bushes, trees, etc.
Furious with the prior owner, I advised the new homeowners of the prior tree inspection, and explained the tree must be removed immediately since it is now a danger to people and property. Understandably, the new homeowners were clearly overwhelmed and almost in tears by the news. Since I was a witness to this horrible situation, I offered to provide a witness statement to their insurance company and/or attorney should they decide to seek recourse against the prior owner.
Years have passed since then, and I do not know what became of the situation.
The moral of the story…
In the above case, had the prior owner routinely inspected his tree, it is possible the disease could have been stopped before it reached fatal levels. Further, had the new owners hired a Consulting Arborist to perform a tree inspection prior to purchasing the home, they would have known of the looming disaster, standing ominously in the backyard.
Whether you are buying a home, selling a home, or live in a home that has trees, the importance of tree inspections cannot be overstated. Regular tree inspections can prevent damage to persons and property, as well as ensure the health of trees. In many situations, trees will display outward signs or symptoms that can be spotted by a trained eye through routine tree inspections.
