Tree Risk

Trees enhance the quality of life for people & animals alike. Trees make life in the Upstate truly enjoyable! But a hazardous situation can exist when you have a defective tree & a high-value target. Trees in the forest fall everyday without notice or fanfare. But trees in urban areas can cause personal injury & property damage.

Risk Management is a well-established concept in the care of public spaces. Risk Management, as it pertains to trees, involves a Tree Risk Manager (a responsible tree owner or manager), a Tree Risk Assessor (a qualified consulting arborist who inspects trees & assigns risk), and a competent arborist (who through service work reduces risk to an acceptable level).

Tree removal can cost thousands of dollars, but it’s not always needed. In fact, most hazards can be mitigated simply by moving the target, pruning, adding structural support and/or reducing access. While it’s impossible to maintain trees free of risk, Risk Management can become a useful tool in the hands of the owner or manager to assess, manage & mitigate tree risk. It’s amazing how much a little knowledge can relieve one of unwarranted fear!

In our slideshow below, we display many of the defects that are common to the  Upstate (and the South). If you have any of these defects, or just have concerns about the safety of your trees, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Our Risk Assessment Qualified arborists can identify hazards, and recommend proven solutions that will put your mind at ease. Be wary of tree removal companies that offer free tree inspections (all photos copyright Randy Cyr unless otherwise noted).