The Summer is finally here! Vacations, family events, time with friends and projects for the summer are planned and/or currently ongoing. But one thing that everyone forgets about is your trees!
Being in Litchfield County, we are the first county in Connecticut to be hit with a storm when they roll through the area. Being in business for 25 years, I have seen and been through a good amount of them. From your simple passing storm that brought down a limb in your yard to an all-out catastrophe that shuts down power for a week or two. A lot of people like to say to us, “you must love this weather” and that is so far from the truth. It wreaks havoc on our schedule, it’s hard on the crews and you can put all your training to the test, but it doesn’t prepare you for the emotional moments with the homeowners whose homes have been damaged from the storm.
I have written articles in the past about how insurance companies are cracking down on trees around houses and the care for your trees throughout the year, but we have never talked about the calm before the storm. The calm before the storm as us “tree” guys like to call it, is the time where people are living their normal lives and going about their day. Maybe they had a tree removed a few months ago, or they had that annoying limb taken off the tree that they didn’t like. But how many people have gone through an Arborist evaluation of their trees or have a number on hand of an arborist, in case of an emergency?
An evaluation of your trees is a good thing to have, not just for storms, but to check the overall health of your trees. It’s a report on each one of your trees and it sometimes surprises people. It will tell you about the health and condition of your trees. This report can only be done by a Connecticut licensed arborist and it is not the same as an estimate, there is a charge for this type of service. It involves inspecting the trees from the ground around it to the canopy and structure of the tree. Tools might be used to determine if there are any signs of decay in the trees, or samples may be taken so that they can be examined under a microscope. After inspection the report is prepared with recommendations based on the current condition of the tree. Do you have to do everything recommended on the report? No. But it will give you an understanding of what could happen to your trees.
The report is not what I like to call the grail. There are many trees that I have deemed unsafe that are still currently standing, and I have seen healthy trees come over in a storm. But one thing that I have consistently seen after a report is prepared is that it opens people’s eyes about their trees and they tend to start making caring for them a priority.
Reports will vary between arborists. I have yet to see a client get three reports that are exactly the same. They may be close, but they are never the same. My best advice that I can give on getting a report is to obtain one from a Licensed Arborist that you feel comfortable with and they treat your property like it is their own. Build that relationship and it will help out in the long run if something was to happen.
If a storm hits your area, remember, everyone is a “tree guy”. Never feel pressured to hire someone that is working in the area or knocks on your door. Take the time to do your research on the company, and their qualifications, make sure they have the proper licensing and insurance before you hire them. Storms bring out the worst in this industry. The tree is down and it’s not going anywhere so never feel pressured to hire someone, it may end up costing you more in the long run.
Just like planning for your Summer vacation, plan for a storm by having a list of contractors ready to help you. Enjoy the Summer!
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