When storms hit your area, high winds can take their toll on your home as well as your landscape, and tree damage is one of the most common causes of homeowner’s insurance claims. Although trees are beautiful and majestic when healthy, they can weigh hundreds or even thousands of pounds and wreak untold havoc on your home when damaged.
At Vital Tree Service in Woodbury, Minnesota, our tree removal team helps local homeowners deal with the fallout after tree-related damage occurs. Give us a call if you need emergency tree removal near Woodbury!
Let’s discuss some of the most common types of tree-related property damage and how to protect your home.
Dropped Limbs in High Winds
Certain trees are more susceptible to damage from high winds due to weak bark that doesn’t adequately support the tree against strong winds. Some of the most common of these trees include willows, silver maples, American oaks, and pear trees. Be wary when selecting these trees as part of your landscaping, and plant them a reasonable distance from your home and other buildings on your property.
In the worst-case scenarios, tree limbs can loosen during a storm, fall on your vehicle or roof, and create a safety risk for your pets and family. As these trees grow taller, they must be regularly trimmed to prevent dropped limbs during storms.
Invasive Roots
Another common type of home damage occurs when trees are placed too close to a house and involve their root systems. Although a tree may initially seem to have plenty of room when first planted, its roots can expand toward your house over the years. Over time, they can cause damage to your foundation by shifting the soil around the house and pavement.
If you’ve ever seen tree roots push up a sidewalk, you understand how powerful they can be. To avoid such problems, never plant a tree within 20 feet of your home. If you anticipate a problem with a tree down the road, it’s best to have it removed sooner than later.
Power Line Risks
Like trees growing too close to your home, trees growing too close to your power lines can be responsible for severe damage. If you’ve ever lived in an area with many mature trees and older power lines, you know what a disastrous combination this can be. One strong wind can snap limbs on the lines or even cause the limbs to sway against the lines, damaging them.
If you suspect your trees are too close to your power lines, it may be safer either to have the limbs near the power lines professionally trimmed or cut or to have the trees removed completely.
Insect Infestations
Your tree’s health can affect how pests and insects respond to them, as they are often their home. When the tree is in good condition, it provides enough nutrients and offers shelter, so the insects are more likely to stay there and not venture elsewhere. However, if your tree has any diseases, there is a risk of the infestation moving to your home as their food supply runs out.
Some simple prevention methods can reduce your risk, so regularly check the health of your trees and, if need be, schedule an inspection for pest control.
Clogged Gutters
Your gutters are just as important as every other component in your home, and trees notoriously drop twigs and leaves as they go through the seasons. This is a good sign because it means they are healthy; however, the debris can wreak havoc on your gutters if it builds up and can’t correctly allow water to flow away from your home.
Clogged gutters force water to run down the exterior of your home, damaging your roofing, siding, and foundation. The solution is to clean your gutters annually and get professional pruning when your trees look overgrown or creep too close to your home.
Emergency Tree Services Near Woodbury, MN
Although it’s better to plan ahead and hire a tree removal service before disaster strikes, that’s not always possible. If you need trimming and pruning, we have you covered, or if emergency tree services are required, our tree removal team at Vital Tree Service can help.
To assess your property risk from tree-related damage, give us a call at 651-341-4021 or contact us online to learn more. We can’t wait to serve you!