Tips from arborists and how residents can help out with tree clean up efforts
EUGENE, Ore — In the immediate aftermath of the ice storm, downed trees are scattered all over Lane County.
Austin Bigbee, a crew lead from Superior Tree Service, is just one of the many tree removal crews who are busy and hard at work. They’ve been cleaning up ice storm damage since Saturday. There are, however, some things residents can do while waiting for professional crews.
Bigbee said, “If you have a limb that’s hit your house possibly slid off, get a tarp up there. We recommend taking lots of pictures for insurance, that way insurance knows what’s going on.”
Aside from documenting the damages, Bigbee said residents are likely capable of removing smaller limbs by themselves. If limbs are on roads or yards, residents can help out the tree removers by stacking them in a safe place that won’t block sidewalks, bike lanes or areas for the disabled. Bigbee also recommends stacking them with the thicker end of the tree branches facing one direction, as it will speed things up for whoever removes them. However, Bigbee urged caution, as even the smaller branches can be a problem.
Bigbee said, “There’s risks of them popping or exploding, or being under pressure that you might not thought have been there, you can crunch your feet, you can roll your ankles pretty easily.”
For the bigger branches and limbs, tree removers say safety is key, and residents should leave those for the professionals. Bigbee has seen his fair share of accidents related to tree removal and he doesn’t want anyone putting themselves in unnecessary danger.
He said, “People who have trees on their houses, you know, call us. Let us know what you have going on, we try to mitigate the risks.”
Experts also add, one of the most important things any individual home owner can do is to keep an eye on their tree. According to them, depending on the species, trees like firs and pines have some early warnings signs that should raise some flags.
Bigbee said, “A lot of times where they grow multiple tops there will be a line straight down, and that’s what we call included bark, a lot of times the trees will grow at the same rate each year which causes them to push apart.”
That’s when experts recommend calling someone to come over to inspect the tree. They also said home owners should check for pests and diseases which can weaken the tree and often makes them vulnerable to collapsing, especially in the event of strong winds. When it comes to tree maintenance, inspectors can also determine if the tree may need some additional support.
Bigbee said, “Assess the tree and decide whether it needs cables or brace, if some sort of support system needs to go in to best benefit them in the storms.”
Arborists said there are tree services in Eugene that offer free tree inspections. Residents are highly recommended to ask for an inspection every couple of years or so.
Bigbee said, “You can do it every four years, it just kind of depends on the species and the situation that you also have around.”
Proper tree maintenance goes a long way in preventing tree collapses. However, arborists also said a lot of it can come down to luck as well.
Bigbee said, “It’s mother nature and she kind of does what she wants, and there’s a lot of things we can’t see inside the tree no matter how many times we climb them or prune on them.”
www.kezi.com
https://www.kezi.com/news/arborists-give-tips-on-how-residents-can-help-out-with-tree-clean-up-efforts/article_59db150c-b739-11ee-9f68-2fa00aa035d0.html
