The Importance of Regular Tree Maintenance for Property Safety

If you don’t want to fall victim to a tree disaster like this

Think your trees don’t need regular attention?

Think again.

In the UK this year alone, Newcastle City Council was fined £280,000 when a child died after being struck by a falling tree branch in a school playground.

This isn’t an isolated incident. Problems with trees on properties occur all the time. Most of them are preventable. But only if you take a proactive approach to tree care and maintenance.

Time to take cover…

So, before a falling tree damages your home or injures a family member or neighbour, here’s the lowdown on keeping trees on your property safe and healthy.

You can expect to see:

• Why tree maintenance is important
• The reality of the risks if you neglect tree care
• How inspections keep you safe

Why Tree Maintenance Is Important

Tree maintenance works huge advantages that most people don’t appreciate until something bad happens.

1. Avoid Costly Property Damage

Trees smashing into your home or roof will cost a fortune to put right. A damaged roof that results from a tree disaster can rack up bills for thousands of pounds. In fact, insurance companies are being tough about these kinds of claims. They investigate claims and if they can show you were negligent about tree maintenance, they’ll refuse to pay up.

Insurance statistics claim fallen trees and branches cause damage to properties every year and insurers research the postal area to establish whether tree damage is common or not.

Regular tree surgery work helps avoid the risk because professional tree surgeons will pick up on the things that matter before they cause serious damage. Dead or dying branches. Disease in the core tree structure. Root damage that makes the tree more likely to fall.

And this is the thing… Trained professionals can see these problems long before they become an issue. Meaning you can pay to have them dealt with cheaply now, instead of much more later when major repairs are required.

2. Legal Liability Protection

Hold on to your hat…

Did you know that as a property owner you are legally liable for any damage and injury caused by trees on your land?

If your tree falls and damages another’s property or injures a member of the public, you could be liable to prosecution.

Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act, you are responsible for the safety of people who visit your land as well as people who pass it. It doesn’t even matter if they are trespassing.

If a person is injured because they were walking beneath your trees and you haven’t maintained them properly, you could be prosecuted criminally and fined. Councils and other organizations have been hit with fines running into six figures recently for avoidable incidents.

However, if you have the evidence to prove you had your trees regularly inspected by a professional, you have a pretty good defence against these types of negligence claims.

3. Increase Property Value

Yep. Tree maintenance also has a surprising impact on the value of your property.

Healthy, well-maintained mature trees can boost property values by a lot. Good tree cover makes your property look better to potential buyers, and it creates a nicer environment for your family to live in.

Damaged, dangerous, or dead trees on the other hand have the opposite effect. Houses with diseased or dodgy trees on the property can see their value drop by significant amounts.

The Risks Of Neglecting Tree Care

One more thing…

Trees don’t have to fall over to cause problems. The risk factors that can lead to trees damaging property or people are sometimes less obvious and take a lot longer to develop.

Storm Damage And Falling Branches

If trees aren’t properly maintained they can be a massive risk in severe weather. The UK is seeing more extreme weather patterns and storms. Trees can often be the first things to be affected.

Weak branches are the first thing that occurs when trees aren’t professionally maintained. Dead wood builds up. Root systems become degraded. Trunks develop hidden disease and decay. Then the weather comes along and these hidden hazards become real risks.

Even small trees are big weights. The branch of a large oak tree is several tons by itself. All of this will fall when weakened by hidden disease or decay. Falling trees can kill, cause serious injury and damage your property.

Root Damage And Subsidence

Trees can cause subsidence on houses if they suck moisture out of the surrounding soil. This draws the ground under the foundations upwards, creating expensive structural damage. Repair works can be measured in tens of thousands of pounds.

Root damage is one of those things that happens over time. By the time you notice cracks in your walls, it could be too late to save your home. Insurance companies are a lot more careful when it comes to subsidence caused by trees.

Blocked Gutters And Water Damage

Hold your trousers…

Gutters and drains become blocked quickly when trees are shedding fruit, leaves, and twigs. Overflow from blocked gutters creates a damp build-up on walls, leading to water ingress that costs a fortune to sort out.

Keep these areas clear of leaves and debris to avoid insurance claims for water ingress. Particularly over autumn and winter.

How Regular Inspections Keep You Safe

The key to avoiding all the above problems? Regular professional tree inspections. This one action will protect you against almost all tree-related risks.

Tree Risk Assessments

Tree risk assessments are essential for maintaining safety on your property. The National Tree Safety Group recommends regular tree inspections especially on trees overhanging public footpaths. Certified arborist tree services offer detailed visual inspections of crown condition and quality, trunk and structural integrity, root zone condition, and tree structure stability.

Frequency Of Tree Inspections

There is no hard and fast rule about how often you should have trees inspected. However, if you own a tree and do nothing to inspect it, you will be deemed negligent should a problem arise with that tree.

If you own a tree close to property or a frequently used public area, annual inspections are recommended. Less risky trees may only need an inspection every two to three years.

Inspection Records

This is very important… You must keep detailed written reports of every inspection. These records document that you have taken all the reasonable steps that are expected of you as a tree owner to make sure your trees are not a danger.

If a negligence claim is made against you, these records become the foundation of your defence.

Signs That You Need A Tree Surgeon

Immediately call a professional tree surgeon if you spot:

• Dead or hanging branches in the canopy
• Cracks in the trunk or major limbs
• Fungal growth at the base of the tree
• Leaning not previously present
• Root damage or soil movement

The above are all signs of serious trouble. Get your trees checked professionally. Don’t wait until something falls.

Wrapping Up

If you are a responsible property owner, you are legally bound to take reasonable care of the trees on your land.

The problem is that tree care is a specialist job. It needs the right equipment, specialist knowledge and ongoing maintenance and care.

So unless you want to end up spending a lot of money on expensive damage, legal liability issues, and putting the people you care about at risk.

Call in professional tree services for regular tree inspections. It’ll give you peace of mind that your trees are safe, maintained properly and there is a written record of their ongoing safety which protects you.

Don’t wait for a problem to be obvious. Get your trees checked now. And if the tree surgeon makes recommendations, do the work to maintain your trees properly.

Remember… you have a legal duty of care. The best way to comply with that is regular professional maintenance of your trees.