Do You Need to Worry About Tree Cavities?
Trees commonly have knots, splits, hollows, and even cavities in their trunks or branches. These features are part of the visual interest trees provide and are produced during growth that follows some sort of injury to the tree. Battle scars, you might say, often result from the tree growing around or over a wound to heal and strengthen the area. But do you need to worry about tree cavities?
The answer depends on numerous factors, such as the location and size of the cavities.
Location of Tree Cavities
One of the significant factors for whether you need to worry about your trees having cavities is the location of the cavities. Trees with cavities are often just as strong as ever, but certain areas can indicate significant risks.
- If the cavity is near the tree’s base, then the tree may be at risk of falling over.
- If the cavity is at a branch attachment (where the branch is connected to the trunk) the branch could fall in severe winds or when carrying extra weight, such as ice or snow.
If you see a tree cavity in these areas of your tree, call a professional arborist to examine them.
Size of Tree Cavities
Another issue that can signify the risk of cavities in trees is their size. If a cavity is small, you may be able to leave the tree alone as the cavity is too small to compromise the tree’s structural integrity. On the other hand, a large cavity is a cause for concern. For example, if the diameter of the tree cavity is too big in relation to the trunk’s girth, the cavity may cause weakness resulting in the tree falling. To ensure that your home and its occupants are safe, have any worrisome tree cavities or splits checked out by a tree care professional.
Tree Care for Abnormalities
Some tree abnormalities need no special attention. The tree has healed and compensated for the weakness from the injury. Other abnormalities require treatment to ensure the tree’s continued stability and health. Some trees with abnormalities need to be removed for the safety of surrounding property or people.
Tree Cavities and Hollows
Tree cavities and hollows are sunken or open areas in a tree that typically occur when the tree has suffered some injury, followed by decay. In some cases, the decay goes too far, and the tree is unable to survive. However, the healthy tree tissue surrounding the decay is protected in most cases. As a result, the tree survives, leaving a hollow area or hole.
Some sources estimate that a tree can lose up to 70% of a cross-section of wood and still safely support itself. This is because the tree tends to heal itself, and the buildup of the tree trunk around the wounded area reinforces the stability. However, if the wood is weak, or other factors exist, such as insects attracted to the decay and spreading out, the tree could be at risk of falling. A certified arborist or other tree care specialist can assess the risk and advise you if the tree has a moderate or significant chance of failing.
If the tree is stable, no treatment is necessary. However, some homeowners choose to have the tree filled, either for aesthetic purposes, to keep young children from playing in the tree, or keep animals from nesting inside. If you choose to fill the tree, use a foam filler. Concrete was a standard filler in the past. However, trees move with the wind and continue to grow, so the unyielding concrete acts as an irritant that can cause even more damage to the tree.
Forks or Splits
Sometimes branches fork off from the tree trunk at sharp angles. As the tree matures, the branches get thicker and heavier and are more prone to breaking off. If the fork occurs in the early formation of the tree, two main tree branches can seem like separate trunks of the tree.
Either way, forks such as this can cause tree branches to break off under pressure. V-shaped forks are the riskiest and should be monitored if a large tree is near power lines or structures. A certified arborist can fortify the connection by cabling and bracing the tree in many cases. This service utilizes cable lines and bracing rods to redistribute structural stress and help prevent structural damage.
Contact Stein Tree for Tree Care
Stein Tree Service strives to provide excellent service to homeowners in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Our services include tree inspection, insect infestation prevention and treatment for emerald ash borer, tree trimming and pruning, tree removal, and cabling or bracing. In addition, we are available 24/7 for emergency tree services, and we offer free consultations. For information about tree care, visit our website, or contact us at 302-478-3511.
Je, Unahitaji Kuhangaikia Mvunjiko wa Miti? Kwa kawaida miti huwa na vifungo, nyufa, mashimo, na hata mashimo katika shina au matawi yake. Sehemu ya kuvutia ya kuona ni miti na hutengenezwa wakati wa ukuaji baada ya aina fulani ya jeraha kwa mti. Mara nyingi, makovu ya vita hutokana na mti unaokua kuzunguka au juu ya jeraha ili kuponya na kuimarisha eneo hilo. Lakini je, unahitaji kuwa na wasiwasi kuhusu mashimo ya miti? Jibu linategemea mambo mengi, kama vile mahali ambapo mashimo hayo yapo na ukubwa wake. Sehemu ya mashimo ya miti: Moja ya sababu muhimu ya kuwa na wasiwasi kuhusu mashimo ya miti yako ni eneo la mashimo. Mara nyingi miti yenye mashimo huwa imara kama ilivyokuwa zamani, lakini maeneo fulani yaweza kuonyesha hatari kubwa. - Ikiwa shimo hilo liko karibu na msingi wa mti, huenda mti huo ukaanguka. - Ikiwa shimo liko kwenye tawi (ambapo tawi limeunganishwa na shina) tawi linaweza kuanguka wakati wa upepo mkali au wakati wa kubeba uzito wa ziada, kama vile barafu au theluji. Ikiwa unaona mashimo katika sehemu hizo za mti wako, mwambie mtaalamu wa miti awachunguze. Ukubwa wa Matundu ya Miti Jambo jingine linaloweza kuonyesha hatari ya matundu ya miti ni ukubwa wake. Ikiwa shimo ni dogo, unaweza kuacha mti peke yake kwa kuwa shimo ni dogo sana kuhatarisha uadilifu wa muundo wa mti. Kwa upande mwingine, shimo kubwa ni jambo lenye kutia wasiwasi. Kwa mfano, ikiwa kipenyo cha shimo la mti ni kikubwa sana ikilinganishwa na kipenyo cha shina, shimo hilo linaweza kusababisha udhaifu na kusababisha mti kuanguka. Ili kuhakikisha kwamba nyumba yako na wakazi wake wako salama, wafanye mtaalamu wa kutunza miti achunguze mashimo au mapengo ya miti yanayowasumbua. Utunzaji wa Miti Kwa Ajili ya Kasoro Baadhi ya kasoro za miti hazihitaji uangalifu wa pekee. Mti huo umepona na umepunguza udhaifu uliosababishwa na jeraha hilo. Matatizo mengine huhitaji kutibiwa ili kuhakikisha kwamba mti huo unaendelea kuwa thabiti na wenye afya. Miti fulani yenye kasoro inahitaji kuondolewa kwa ajili ya usalama wa mali au watu walio karibu. Vituo vya miti ni sehemu zilizozama au wazi katika mti ambayo kwa kawaida hutokea wakati mti umepatwa na jeraha fulani, ikifuatiwa na kuoza. Katika visa fulani, uharibifu huo huendelea sana, na mti huo hauwezi kuishi. Hata hivyo, katika visa vingi, tishu nzuri ya mti inayozunguka kuoza inalindwa. Matokeo ni kwamba, mti huo huokoka, ukiacha eneo lenye matundu au shimo. Kulingana na takwimu za kihistoria, mti unaweza kupoteza hadi asilimia 70 ya sehemu yake ya msalaba na bado uweze kujitegemeza. Hii ni kwa sababu mti huwa na uwezo wa kujirekebisha, na kuunganishwa kwa shina la mti kuzunguka eneo lililojeruhiwa huimarisha utulivu. Hata hivyo, ikiwa mbao ni dhaifu, au kuna mambo mengine, kama vile wadudu wanaovutiwa na kuoza na kuenea, mti unaweza kuanguka. Mtaalamu wa miti au mtaalamu mwingine wa utunzaji wa miti anaweza kukadiria hatari na kukushauri ikiwa mti una uwezekano wa kupungua kwa kiasi au kwa kiasi. Ikiwa mti huo ni thabiti, hakuna matibabu yanayohitajiwa. Hata hivyo, wamiliki fulani wa nyumba huchagua kuweka mti huo ndani ya nyumba, ama kwa sababu za kupendeza, au ili kuzuia watoto wadogo wacheze ndani ya mti huo, au ili wanyama wasijenge viota ndani yake. Ikiwa unachagua kujaza mti, tumia kifuniko cha povu. Zamani, saruji ilikuwa kitu cha kawaida cha kujaza. Hata hivyo, miti husonga pamoja na upepo na kuendelea kukua, kwa hiyo saruji isiyopungua hutenda kama kichocheo ambacho chaweza kusababisha uharibifu zaidi kwa mti. Nyakati nyingine matawi hutenganishwa na shina la mti kwa pembe kali. Mti unapokua, matawi yake huwa mazito na yenye uzito zaidi na huwa rahisi kuvunjika. Ikiwa msalaba huo unatokea wakati wa mwanzo wa mti, matawi mawili makuu ya mti yanaweza kuonekana kama shina tofauti za mti. Kwa vyovyote vile, miiba kama hiyo yaweza kusababisha matawi ya miti kuvunjika chini ya mkazo. V-shaped forks ni hatari zaidi na inapaswa kufuatiliwa kama mti mkubwa ni karibu na mistari ya umeme au miundo. Mtaalamu wa miti mwenye vyeti anaweza kuimarisha uhusiano huo kwa kuunganisha waya na kuimarisha mti huo katika visa vingi. Huduma hii hutumia mistari ya kebo na vijiti vya kuimarisha ili kusambaza tena mkazo wa muundo na kusaidia kuzuia uharibifu wa muundo. Huduma ya Mti wa Stein inajitahidi kutoa huduma bora kwa wamiliki wa nyumba huko Delaware, Pennsylvania, na Maryland. Huduma zetu ni pamoja na ukaguzi wa miti, kuzuia wadudu na matibabu kwa ajili ya emerald ash borer, miti trimming na pruning, miti kuondolewa, na cabling au bracing. Kwa kuongezea, tunapatikana 24 7 kwa huduma za miti ya dharura na tunatoa ushauri wa bure. Kwa maelezo zaidi kuhusu huduma ya miti, tembelea tovuti yetu au wasiliana nasi kwa simu ya 020-327-571-007.