Ask the Arborist




 

 

A dead tree is a dangerous tree

I saw a bumper sticker the other day that read, “Of all the things I’ve lost, I miss my mind the most.”

That’s pretty funny. But one thing I sometimes think we truly have lost is our common sense. Either that or it’s in very short supply.

On sleeping pill bottles there are labels that warn users that the medication “may cause drowsiness.” I bought a knife a few days ago and the warning label said, “Caution: Knife may be sharp.”

But apparently there are enough gray-matter-challenged people to make all the warnings necessary.

In other words, common sense isn’t so common anymore.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the manner some people ignore dangerous trees.

Trees are dying all over Southern California, and the ongoing drought is playing a big part in that. Aside from the aesthetic loss, when a tree dies it often becomes dangerous, especially if it’s large, in a highly trafficked area or close to homes.

About two miles from my house is an 80-foot-tall eucalyptus that has been dead for well over three years. The last dead leaves on the tree blew off several years ago, and the bark long ago sloughed off of the trunk and branches. This tree is just one large standing piece of very heavy and brittle firewood.

The scary thing about the tree is that it’s right next to a house, and when it falls—and it will— there is going to be extensive damage, most certainly to the structure and quite possibly to the inhabitants. People could be injured, or worse.

I just keep wondering why the homeowners continue to close their eyes to the fact that they’re endangering their family and anyone within the fall zone of the tree.

Without a doubt, healthy trees fall down or shed large branches every day all over the world. As an arborist and tree risk assessor, I’m asked on a regular basis about the health and safety of trees.

I’ve said it so many times in the past and I will continue to tell anyone who will listen: There is no such thing as an old, large tree that is safe, because every tree falls down someday. Speaking specifically now about large trees and large limbs on trees that are alive, if the tree appears normal and healthy, it’s quite often hard to determine the “reasonable” safe condition of that tree.

If the tree is dead, however, and the leaves have long ago fallen off forever, that kind of tree is what I call a “no-brainer.”

It must come down.

Common sense in this case should take over, but we’ve already discussed the apparent lack of that trait in some people.

If a large tree that is alive and healthy falls or sheds a large branch and does property damage or hurts someone, it could be called an “act of God.” In fact, that is what insurance companies usually call it.

On the flip side of that coin, if an obviously dead tree creates the same damage, it is indefensible. I mean, how could you not know that is was unsafe?

So let me state this one more time so anyone can understand it—dead trees are not safe, period.

Cut them down before someone gets hurt. If there is an obviously hazardous branch or tree, live or dead, take care of the situation right away.

If it is a protected tree, get a permit, but take care of it without delay.

If the tree is a protected species such as an oak or California sycamore and it is dead, you can get a no-cost type “A” permit from the city and remove it. There are no hurdles in the way of you removing a dead or dangerous tree except inaction.

And in the case of a dead tree, inaction can be a killer.

David D. Mortimer is a certifi ed arborist and a certified tree risk assessor with more than 35 years’ experience in the tree care industry. Email questions to dmortimer@theacorn.com.


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