Trees Look Good

By Author: Norris Rios
Total Articles: 572
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When you walk or drive around the neighborhood, there are times the trees look really good and definitely add value to the properties. Better still, the more trees we have on the planet, the better the quality of the air. So what's the problem? Well, ignoring the cost of the saplings, do you really want to pay for the arborists to come round and keep them healthy? And when they get old, do you want to pick up the bill for cutting them down safely before they fall onto the power lines? It can cost up to $5,000 to hire a crane to lift a big tree and carry it away. Then there are all the people who turn out to be allergic to the pollen. Ah, well, such are the costs of living surrounded by nature.

When it comes to insurance, here are a few pointers. Let's assume the tree is on your land and the wind snaps off a big branch, do not just ignore it. If this is a ragged break, the tree could be seriously weakened and, over time, the risk of blowing down increases. Paying for a professional arborist will protect the tree. Should the tree blow down and insurance company detects your failure to take action, the policy can cancelled. ...
... You have to take reasonable steps to protect your property from harm and this includes paying for professional help with your own trees. Should the tree belong to your homeowners association, call them immediately to protect your policy.

You can predict the risk a tree will fall by checking whether the root growth is down or, at least, flat, e.g. by checking whether the tree is vertical. If it's listing to one side and it rains heavily, it can fall over. Assuming it remains vertical, it needs about 25 gallons of water a week to stay healthy. During a dry summer, you can reduce the risk of a fall by watering the roots. Should branches fall from a neighbor and damage your property, you can claim from the owner. Insurance policies routinely cover third party liability. For this reason you should keep your own trees in good repair. If in doubt, do not allow them to grow within ten feet of the sidewalk or a neighbor's property. One sign to watch out for is whether birds nest in your trees. If woodpeckers start drilling, this is a sign the tree has begun to decay or there's an infestation of insects which could be eating the wood. Should the crown start to die back, this is definitely a sign you should take action. Better you have the arborist remove it than have it fall on your roof.

Before you buy a home, it can be worth having an arborist look at any older trees close to the house. Better to buy when you know it's safe. As to insurance, most home insurance policies cover trees as a standard term. But if the number of trees on your land is significant and they are close to your own structures or could represent a danger to your neighbors or those passing by, you should get more specific home insurance quotes. It's up to you to get the cover your property needs.