Typically the month of July is rather warm for anyone that lives in the south.
The only thing that makes these hot days bearable is the ability to find our favorite shade tree.
Many of our houses and other structures were purchased or built around an existing set of trees.
The bad news is the length of time it takes to replace such a tree.
Lately some of our storms have taken a toll on our trees but there are some ways to help keep our favorites healthy.
Risk is the likelihood of that tree failing and the consequences that follow.
Start off your research with what types of trees you are dealing with and typical characteristics that go along with them, such as Bradford pears that typically have poor branching structure causing them to fail or cottonwoods that typically have shallow root systems that do not withstand weather very well.
Also look into how tall a tree should be at maturity and the overall canopy size.
Once you feel like you know everything about your trees move on to assessing your trees. Start at the ground and make sure it has a solid foundation.
This is one of the easiest to overlook because it is underground. However remember that if you get that new driveway next to that huge oak or build that fabulous raised bed around the trunk of the tree you are inevitably cutting that tree off from vital nutrients and could pose a problem. Next look at the stem for cracks or other unusual places. Then look at the crown and see if it is equal on all sides.
If it is really dense some branches may need to be removed to help it withstand wind.
Always remove dead, diseased or broken branches as soon as possible as they might fail and not only damage property but further injure the tree. Now that you know the problems and risks that the tree poses it can be handled.
Of course the tree next to your house poses a larger risk than one in a field but that explains why tree health is a must. Remember to always contact a professional with any questions and whenever removing portions of the tree.
Keep your trees healthy and they will keep you and your landscape slightly cooler.
