When you have an older tree on your northwest Oregon property, you might be worried about unexpected damage. How often should trees be inspected to prevent emergencies? Experts offering tree services in McMinnville, OR, can explain the benefits of routine professional tree assessments and help you set up a schedule.
Why Annual Inspections Are Recommended
The recommended frequency for tree health inspections is once a year. This allows professionals to spot structural or infestation problems before they progress beyond the point where treatment is possible. Annual checkups for younger saplings ensure they’re growing as straight and healthy as possible. Older trees may have structural issues that require trimming or pruning to prevent falling limbs.
Arborists who perform the checkups often find that everything is fine with the plant. However, should they need to take any steps to protect the health of the plant or the property, the annual checkup ensures they can do this work right away.
Other Situations Where Inspections Are Important
Whether you have healthy or hazardous trees, annual inspections are helpful. However, you may need extra visits when you see or anticipate potential problems.
Before or After a Storm Is in the Area
When severe thunderstorms are in the forecast, you may want to preemptively perform trimming and pruning. These techniques are one way that regular tree checkups can help prevent costly damage from falling limbs.
How often should trees be inspected if a storm is expected? You may only want to ask for a checkup if the storm is predicted to have winds exceeding 60 miles per hour, depending on the species you have.
Another option is to call professionals for an inspection after the storm. If you see a few cracked branches, experts can climb the trunk or use a bucket truck to closely inspect the entire canopy for damage.
When You See Signs of Insects or Root Damage
One sign that a tree needs an inspection is a significant presence of insects around the trunk. Insects can severely damage the plant over a period of several weeks or months, so you may want experts to look at the trunk and figure out whether insects are burrowing into the wood.
If you damage the roots with a lawn mower or see roots poking out of the ground because of wet soil, call for an immediate inspection. Roots provide an anchor for the trunk and are essential to the plant’s health, so early treatment is necessary.
Rely on Oregon Arborist for Tree Inspections and Maintenance You Can Trust
Although some homeowners feel comfortable identifying storm damage on trees and spotting signs of disease, most don’t. Instead, you can rely on professionals to follow a tree inspection schedule to avoid emergencies with broken limbs and similar issues.
So, how often should trees be inspected? Our experts at Oregon Arborist can set up an annual checkup schedule for you, and we’ll visit at other times you need help. For a free cost quote for any of our services, call us today at (503) 899-4166.