A tree that is leaning dangerously may have to be removed before it causes injury or damage to property. One of the things that determine whether a leaning tree is dangerous is the cause of the inclination. Here are some of the common reasons trees lean:
Damage to the Roots
Roots anchor trees to the ground. Therefore, damaging or weakening the roots in any way may cause the tree to lean towards the opposite side. Roots may be damaged during an excavation, for example, when fixing utility lines or constructing a building foundation.
Tree Diseases
Anything that weakens a tree can cause it to lean, and this includes diseases. For example, diseases that weaken the roots, rot out the trunk or bark, or wither up some branches will weaken a tree and cause it to lean.
Damage to Some Branches
Damage to some branches may also cause a tree to lean in one direction. This is especially true of large trees with large branches. In such a case, weakening or cutting off (for example, due to poor trimming)branches to one side of the tree will interfere with its weight distribution and cause it to lean on towards the remaining branches.
Damage Caused by the Storm
If your area experiences strong winds, then you already know the extent to which storms can damage trees. Strong winds can uproot trees, break branches, break trunks and cause many other kinds of tree damages. The extent of the damage depends on different issues such as the tree species, the health of the tree, and the height of the tree, among other issues.
Changes in Soil Structure
Soil erosion can cause a tree to lean by exposing its roots. Since the exposed roots will not be holding firmly onto the ground, the affected tree will lean on the opposite side of the exposed trees.Another example is waterlogging, which weakens the soil and allows the roots to pull out of the ground when the tree is disturbed, for example, by the wind. In fact, anything that interferes with the anchorage of the roots to the ground interferes with the stability of a tree.
If you aren't sure why your tree is leaning, call a tree company for an assessment to determine whether the inclination is dangerous. An analysis is especially dangerous when the tree is growing near a power line or some other sensitive infrastructure. Careful removal of such a tree would eliminate the danger of it falling and causing damage or injury.
Contact a company like On Demand Tree Services for more information and assistance.
