Architecture

3 Reasons Why You Need to Be Mindful About Trees

pathway between trees

In this day and age, living in houses that have a lot of green is definitely in. The growing demand for eco-friendly solutions and environment-friendly alternatives has made trees and other greeneries the perfect accessory to any backyard. Of course, as with most things, there is such a thing as having too much green.

Heaps of trees are better off in the forest where they aren’t able to cause harm to anyone. This is why most people who have too many trees in their backyard hire tree removal services to at least control the foliage in their backyard. While they are great for your health, keep in mind that there are a few things you need to be mindful of when it comes to trees.

It’s good having one or two in your backyard but more than that could cause a serious problem. While it’s not necessary to remove the trees in your backyard or near your house yet, it’s best to be well aware of what can happen if they are too close for comfort. Here are 3 reasons why you need to be mindful of them.

They Are A Serious Fire Hazard

It should be obvious by now that the tree in your backyard or near your house is actually a serious fire hazard. It becomes even more serious once the leaves dry up and they begin falling on the ground. If it’s too close to your house, it doesn’t take a small source to have the tree spread the fire everywhere else.

You can have your house and backyard inspected by the fire department to check if the trees nearby are too close for comfort. They’ll recommend if it’s too close to be a serious threat once a small fire begins to spread. Ideally, however, you’d want to make sure that the tree is far from any power lines, gas lines, or any other probable source of fires.

Some house fires are started by dried leaves that have been exposed to sunlight. As such, if you have a tree nearby that’s starting to drop all of its dried-up leaves, you should make sure to rake the leaves regularly. Either have them disposed of and throw them into the garbage bin or just have them in a shade away from the sunlight if you don’t have the time to throw them away.

If you want to have a tree in your backyard without having to worry about it being a fire hazard, you should take note of a lot of things first. For starters, the tree must be away from windows, walls, and just about any part of the house. Make sure that it’s at least 10-feet away – including the branches and leaves.

As we’ve said, it’s also a must that you regularly rake the dry leaves in your yard. It doesn’t take much for these leaves to start a fire. Invest in a good leaf blower or the traditional rake to make the job much easier. Be more aggressive in raking especially during the summer when the trees become really dry.

They Can Be A Serious Threat To Life

The fact that trees are a fire hazard already means they are a threat to life. However, that’s not the only time they become a serious threat. One thing worth noting is that as trees die and dry up, they become more brittle and prone to falling down unexpectedly. Even small branches could snap off without you knowing it.

Reasons Why You Need to Be Mindful About Trees

While brittle and dry, dead trees are still pretty heavy and solid. The last thing you’d want happening while you are in your backyard is having a branch or a part of the tree falling on you unexpectedly. It can be a fatal accident but if not for that, it can cause serious injuries which only costs more to have treated.

Once you see that the tree in your backyard is already drying up and there’s no hope of its surviving again, you need to have it removed as soon as possible. Don’t wait for parts of the tree or the entire tree to suddenly fall and hurt someone. Tree removal services are much cheaper than hospital bills.

Roots Can Be Homewreckers

It’s not just the tree that causes problems to homes. The roots underground are also issues that you need to take note of as well. While unseen, these roots can ruin a lot of things concerning your house which is why many homeowners make sure to clear out tree roots whenever they are growing uncontrollably. You might not see it immediately, but the roots could already be doing something bad to your house.

As tree roots can grow uncontrollably, they can begin ruining the foundations of your house. Don’t be too confident about the strength and durability of your house’s foundation as tree roots can infiltrate them easily. They can greatly reduce the integrity of your home in a span of years making it susceptible to damage from earthquakes.

Roots can also ruin utility lines that run underneath your home. This is a more common problem. Many homeowners have experienced having their power or their electricity cut off because tree roots ruin the pipes from beneath the ground. Again, these are actually very costly to fix.

Lastly, tree roots can eventually peep through the ground. If it’s peeping through the grass, it can be a serious health risk as you can trip over it and have yourself injured over it. If it’s growing through the tiles outside the house, it can ruin the tiled flooring easily. Before having tiles installed over the backyard, some homeowners first check for tiles underneath the ground because they don’t want it ruining the flooring in the future.

Instead of completely removing the trees, you should instead consider having them relocated somewhere further from your house. This helps both you and the environment. Nature and humans are supposed to co-exist after all so it’s much better to go and have them relocated somewhere else.

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