You know a tree is in trouble when it is leaning, but how do you know when it happens and how? What are the causes of a tree leaning onto one side? And when you should hire tree cutting services for tree felling? Here is everything you need to know about it.
Causes Of A Leaning Tree
Before diving into what you should do about a leaning tree, you first need to know why it happens. So, here are all of the causes of a leaning tree.
The Roots Are Weak
Trees usually hold onto the ground with their strong roots. If a tree is old and it may have weak roots, then it is at a huge risk of leaning onto one side. Normally, tall trees will have this problem and you will see as they go up, the tree will start to lean. This can be because the roots are unable to hold onto the ground for stability and you need to do something about it before things take a turn for the worse.
You need to assess the root damage and figure out why it happened. It may be because of root rot, some fungal or bacterial infection, or serious damage to the tree by weather.
Strong Winds May Be The Culprit
Speaking of weather, the gust of wind that blows through the trees can also lead them to get damaged and lean to on side. When there are strong winds and if the roots are not as strong to hold the tree together, then it is going to become a problem.
You don’t want the wind to knock the tree down, especially when it’s unable to hold itself up anyway, this is why you want to keep the tree safe from strong winds.
The Tree Wasn’t Planted Correctly
This can happen when the tree is small and young and people can plant it in haste or in the wrong way. If you don’t plant the tree correctly, then it is going to grow up leaned. This is very common especially if you overwater the tree after planting it and the tree naturally leans on one side and it stays that way.
This is why it is recommended that you take your time when planting a tree, because one small mistake can cause the tree to be leaned permanently and you can’t do anything about it after a certain point.
Phototropism
Phototropism is a condition in which plants or even trees grow in the direction of the sun. You can tell whether a tree has phototropism or not by looking at the trunk of the tree.
If the tree is naturally straight from the root up and from the middle, it starts to lean onto one side, then that is a clear sign of a phototrophic tree. This is really common but it can still put you on edge, especially if you just notice that the tree is leaning heavily onto one side.
Soil Erosion
The very soil in which the tree is embedded can also lead to problems. The soil may be eroded, it can also be pretty low quality and there can be a bunch of different things that can cause the tree to lean onto one side and it is all because of the soil.
So, it is recommended to use good quality and slightly dry soil, but not too dry either. You want it to become compacted when you add water to it so that it can hold the tree in place. That is what makes a good soil.
What To Do About A Leaning Tree?
Now that you know what causes a leaning tree, it’s time to figure out what to do about it before it becomes a danger to you and everyone around you.
Assess The Hazard First
You need to understand and evaluate the degree of leaning and how dangerous it can be. First, if you see that along with leaning, the tree is also in bad health, and the leaves are falling down and turning brown, then it is a lost cause and you better have the tree removed before it falls on something.
If the tree is healthy albeit leaned, then there are a bunch of things you can do and they don’t necessarily involve removing the tree. So, you want to know what to do before you actually take action.
Remove The Tree
If the tree is a lost cause and it is heavily leaning onto one side, to the point where you can hear distinct groaning sounds from the tree, then it is high time that you get the tree removed. The tree can fall onto houses, cars, and even wires and poles and that is the last thing you need. This is why it is better that you get the tree removed by contacting emergency tree services Bethesda.
If it can’t be saved or it can’t be supported, then you need to have it removed, before it becomes a damage hazard to people and other things around it.
Support The Tree
If the leaning tree is not a huge problem, then you don’t need to remove it right away. After getting it assessed by a professional, you can provide support to the tree. This is done by shoving a stake or a long stick into the ground parallel to the tree. Then, you can support the tree by tying the stake to the tree and leaving it there.
It is going to support the tree and it won’t lean further, causing it to become a problem in the future and falling on something, further ruining things in the surroundings.
Replant The Tree
This can be done if the tree is still young and manageable in terms of height. You obviously can’t replant trees that are feet upon feet tall. If the tree is young and you are already seeing signs of leaning, then you need to remove the tree and replant it properly.
This can be the cause of not planting the tree properly in the first place and this can cause a lot of issues in the long run. This is why you need to think about removing the tree and then planting it straight before it leans again.
Call A Professional
When you’re assessing a tree, it doesn’t only mean that you’re doing it by yourself. There are only so many things that you can do by yourself and if you’re not calling a tree expert and having them take a look at your tree, then what are you doing?
This is something that you need to do as soon as possible, because if you don’t, then you may miss out on crucial signs that can be dangerous for the tree as well as you and other people. This is why calling a professional is imperative.
Conclusion
Leaning trees are not only a hazard, but they can also turn into a lost cause at some point. Therefore, if your tree is leaning, call in tree removal companies Chevy Chase who will inspect the tree and suggest if it should be removed or not.
