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Tree risk assessment in New york
At GreenLeaf Tree Care, we specialize in professional Tree Risk Assessment (TRA) for properties across New York. As certified tree risk assessment arborists, we perform all levels of assessment, from a visual check to an in-depth analysis.
Our goal is to help you make informed decisions about your tree care. At the end, you will receive a full detailed report, and we will help you decide the best course of action for your tree. These tests take place before a tree removal service or our similar services.
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what is a tree risk assessment?
Think of a Tree Risk Assessment (TRA) as a thorough health check for your trees. It’s a careful, systematic evaluation by a qualified tree risk assessor. Our goal is to figure out if a tree, or any part of it, might fail and what could happen if it does.
This specialized work is done by a New York certified arborist who has specific training. We hold the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ), a credential from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).
When you work with our TRAQ-certified arborists, you’re getting a team who follows a standardized and approved tree assessment process.
why tree risk assessments matter
Getting a professional tree risk assessment, often referred to as a tree safety inspection or hazardous tree inspection, offers many benefits beyond just tree health. It’s about keeping your property safe and preserving trees.
- Save Money: Being proactive with tree care is almost always more affordable than needing emergency tree removal services.
- Protection: Our assessments help reduce the chance of tree failure, especially during storms.
- Keep Your Trees Healthy: Catching problems early makes them much easier to handle, often allowing us to save the tree. We prefer to treat and preserve trees whenever possible.
- Reduce Liability: As a property owner, you’re responsible for the safety of anyone on your property. Regular assessments help us spot hazards early.
When to get a Tree inspection: Warning Signs
- You Feel Concerned: If you simply feel anxious about a tree’s stability or appearance, that’s a valid reason to get a professional assessment. We can provide all the answers you need.
- Visible Cracks or Splits: Look for new, widening, or moving cracks in the bark or where branches connect. Vertical or horizontal cracks, especially those that go across a branch, can signal serious structural weakness.
- Decay, Pests, or Illness: Signs like visible holes or cavities, mushrooms or other fungi growing on the trunk or roots, sap leaking, or evidence of wood-eating insects (like carpenter ants).
- Deadwood: Dead or dying branches, or a lot of dead wood in the tree’s canopy. Broken branches hanging in the tree are also a serious concern.
- Leaning Trunk: A new lean, even a slight one, or ground that’s raised around the base of a leaning tree, can mean the roots are failing.
- Missing Bark: Large areas of missing bark, especially with other signs of decay, can allow diseases to enter and weaken the tree’s structure.
- Structural Issues: Weak branch connections (especially V-shaped ones), multiple stems growing too close together with bark trapped between them, or an overall poor tree shape.
- Root Problems: Exposed, diseased, or broken roots, or roots that are growing in a way that chokes the tree.
- Near Important Targets: Any tree close to your house, other buildings, vehicles, walkways, or power lines should be assessed if it shows signs of poor condition.
- After Severe Weather: Strong winds, heavy snow, or ice storms can damage trees in ways that aren’t immediately obvious.
our tree risk assessment process
Tree Assessment Levels
Level 1: Limited Visual Assessment
This is a quick, initial scan, often done from a distance. We look for obvious signs of risk to help us prioritize which trees might need a closer look.
Level 2: Basic Tree Risk Assessment
This involves a more detailed, ground-level inspection. We walk around the tree, looking closely at its health and stability from all angles. We check for visible signs of decay, disease, and structural problems.
Level 3: Advanced Tree Risk Assessment
For trees with significant risk or those needing a deeper analysis, we use advanced diagnostic tools. This might include specialized equipment to look inside the tree’s trunk for hidden decay, or to examine its root system. These tools help us uncover issues that aren’t visible from the outside.
Understanding Tree Risk Level
After our tree risk assessment, we categorize trees into clear risk levels. These categories help you quickly understand your tree’s condition and decide on its future care. Here are the four main risk categories we use:
Risk Category: Improbable
Likelihood of Failure: Not likely to fail, even in severe weather.
Description: Sturdy trees with no signs of trunk failure or branch drop.
Recommended Action: Monitor periodically, continue regular maintenance.
Risk Category: Possible
Likelihood of Failure: Unlikely under normal conditions, but possible during severe weather.
Description: May have minor issues, but generally stable. Could be compromised by high winds or heavy snow.
Recommended Action: Regular monitoring, consider preventative maintenance.
Risk Category: Probable
Likelihood of Failure: Likely to fail, expected to occur soon under normal conditions.
Description: Shows clear signs of potential failure: cracks, decay, pest infestation, illness, cracked branches.
Recommended Action: Plan for intervention (pruning, cabling, treatment, or removal) as soon as possible.
Risk Category: Imminent
Likelihood of Failure: Ready to fall immediately, even without wind.
Description: Severe signs of illness, extensive decay, cracked/hollow trunks, broken branches. Most serious classification.
Recommended Action: Immediate action required, often emergency removal to keep everyone safe.
FAQs
Are there legal requirements for homeowners in New York to get a tree risk assessment?
Generally, no explicit legal requirements exist for homeowners to conduct tree risk assessments on their private property in New York. However, we strongly recommend them to keep your property safe and avoid potential liability issues. As a property owner, you have an obligation to keep your trees well-maintained and free of risk to guests or people passing by. Neglected trees can lead to significant financial problems if they cause injury or property damage.
What about New York City-specific regulations?
For properties within New York City, additional rules apply, especially for trees in the public right-of-way. The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation oversees all trees along streets, parkways, and in city parks.
- Permits are required: Any work on or around street or park trees – including pruning, fertilizing, spraying, planting, or removing – needs a permit from NYC Parks.
- Penalties for not following rules: If you don’t get the right permits before working on city trees, you could face arrest and prosecution. Most violations are misdemeanors, with fines up to $1,000 or even jail time. Removing a tree without a permit or damaging city trees are very serious offenses, with penalties up to $15,000 or up to a year in jail.
- Reporting hazardous city trees: If you think a city tree is dangerous and needs immediate attention, you can call 311 or submit an online request. A Parks forester will then inspect the tree and address the issue if needed.
What specific tools or techniques do you use during an assessment?
During a basic assessment, we use simple tools like tape measures for diameter, binoculars for crown inspection, a mallet for detecting hollow trunks, or a probe for cavity evaluations. For advanced assessments, we might use sophisticated tools like resistance drilling to detect hidden decay, or even drones for a bird’s-eye view of the tree’s crown.
Can a healthy-looking tree still be a risk?
Yes, a tree that appears healthy on the outside can still pose a risk. Some defects, like internal decay or root decay, aren’t always visible. Root problems, such as girdling roots, can also be hidden underground. That’s why a thorough examination by a certified arborist is the best way to identify if a tree is at risk of failure, even if it looks fine.
What is included in a tree risk assessment report?
Our detailed tree risk assessment report will include a tree inventory with specific details like the tree’s risk rating and its condition (crown, trunk, roots). We’ll note any structural issues like cracks or weak bark, the percentage of deadwood or decay, and any signs of insect infestations or diseases. The report will clearly explain how we determined the risk rating, and for advanced assessments, it will include supporting evidence from our observations or diagnostic techniques, like resistograph records. We also include photographs of the entire tree and close-ups of problem areas, along with any other relevant details.
How does a tree risk assessment compare to regular tree maintenance?
Both are important parts of good tree care. Regular maintenance, like pruning and fertilizing, focuses on keeping trees healthy and vibrant over time. A tree risk assessment, on the other hand, is specifically about identifying potential hazards that could harm people or property. Maintenance is ongoing, while a TRA is typically done when you suspect a problem or after a significant event like a storm.
Are some tree types more prone to failure than others?
Yes, some trees are naturally more susceptible to failure, especially during storms. Trees with existing structural defects are often at higher risk. Additionally, certain species, like the Bradford pear, are known for being brittle or fast-growing, which can make them more prone to breaking or uprooting.
What happens after I receive my tree risk assessment report?
Your report will give you a clear understanding of your tree’s condition and any identified risks. We’ll then discuss recommended actions, which could include pruning, installing support systems like cables, improving soil conditions, or managing diseases. The report will also show you the expected risk level after these actions are taken.
safety tree inspections IN NEW YORK
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