...Just Waitin' To Happen

Danno of Sand Castle Scrolls sent the link to THIS NEWS REPORT of a tree dropping on a car, the occupants, and a police officer who was performing a routine traffic stop.  Be sure to stop the video between 44 and 49 seconds to examine the stump, and note the discolored wood.  This accident was very predictable if only someone had examined the tree.  A safety exam for a tree goes all the way from the root system to the terminal twigs, and checks for any problems that could be compromising the health and safety of the tree.  This week I had a call from a homeowner who had a black oak that fell, blocking a state highway.  He wanted it, and all of his yard trees checked.  The black oak had several dead roots, probably from the drought of 2012, and he had seen mushrooms this spring, but hadn't connected them to any risk.  We found two more trees in his yard with serious problems, one that will eventually smash his garage, and another that will land on his bedroom, if they are allowed to stand.  He IS going to have them taken down on his terms in the near future.

Here's a little of what I see on a regular basis:

 Root rot fungus showing down low on a tree...

...and more of the same...

....Wood rot fungus and loose bark...

...shouting at you from the lower stem of the tree...

...and the tree is going to fall on the neighbor's house, which is a bed-and-breakfast!  The homeowner does not want to remove this tree.  She is going to wait until the tree is in worse condition!  Some take my advice and some don't.

Pay attention to your trees!  Most damage from trees is very predictable, other than damage caused by  tornadic winds and ice.