Unfortunately, all trees carry at least some level of risk. Even healthy trees can fail in extreme weather events and cause serious damage to property or people. That said, many trees provide more value to us than risk of hazard, and it is usually a better option to preserve rather than to remove. Whether a tree is “too risky” or not ultimately comes down to the perspective of the tree owner.
This consultation report is NOT a formal tree risk assessment of any trees on the property. There are arborists who specialize in tree risk assessments and are credentialed specifically for that service. What this report does provide are observations and recommendations for tree care from a certified arborist based on current industry practices, information, and continuing education.
Reducing Risk Through Pruning
In many cases, reducing risk is approached with pruning. Pruning can reduce risk of limb breakage or tree failure, but pruning done in the wrong way or at the wrong time can cause serious stress. Enough stress to a tree can in turn lead to its decline. Opportunistic pathogens such as root rot fungi and boring insects often take advantage of trees that have been over-pruned. Ironically, the heavy pruning which reduced the risk of tree failure in the immediate term usually leads to increased risk for tree failure in the long term. A healthy tree is a safer tree, yet no tree is 100% safe.
How We Determine Necessary Tree Services
At Blue Oak, our first step in determining necessary tree services is establishing the client’s risk threshold. How much risk is acceptable to assume? If 0 risk is allowed, then every tree which could reach the house has to be cut down. If some risk is allowed, only unhealthy or structurally weaker trees are of concern. The second step is establishing the client’s perception of the trees. Are the trees highly valued? If a tree is highly valued but poses higher risk, preservation is the option we discuss first. Risk mitigation strategies can range from pruning, to bracing, to rootzone health enhancement, and more. In these cases, more risk is assumed for the value of the tree. The third step is knowing the client’s budget. A client with a low risk threshold, a low value of trees, and a low budget will usually be better off choosing removal over preservation, as removals are a guaranteed “one and done” treatment. Sometimes a tree removal is even easier to perform than advanced preservation services and may be more affordable, depending on circumstances. A client who has a high value of trees but a low budget and a medium risk threshold may opt to perform only essential services to trees of concern and monitor them closely for future decline.
It was perceived during this consultation that the client had a medium risk threshold, a high value for trees, and a medium level budget. The service recommendations in this consult have been catered to this perception.
