Hazard Tree Assessment in Utica, NY

A hazard tree assessment answers a simple question: could this tree, or part of it, fail and hit something that matters? We look at the tree from the roots to the top for defects, and at what lies within reach of it, the house, garage, driveway, a play set, the street. A big tree with a crack over an empty field is a different problem from the same tree over a bedroom.

What we look for

• Decay: cavities, soft or hollow-sounding wood, mushrooms or conks at the base or on the trunk
• Cracks and splits, especially in tight V-shaped forks between two trunks
• Dead branches and dead tops
• A new lean, or soil heaving up on one side of the base
• Root damage from trenching, paving or construction
• Signs of emerald ash borer on ash trees
• Limbs overextended over roofs, wires or the street

Ash trees

Emerald ash borer has been confirmed in every New York county except Hamilton and Lewis, according to the state DEC. Signs to watch for include woodpeckers stripping outer bark so the trunk looks pale, canopy dieback, D-shaped exit holes and S-shaped tunnels under loose bark. Once infested, most ash trees die within two to four years. DEC notes that treatment with insecticide is an option, and that an infested tree only has to come down if it could fall and cause harm. An assessment helps you decide which ash trees are worth treating, which should come down, and which can be left.

Before and after winter

Utica's heavy snow and ice put trees under load for months. Fall is a good time to check trees before that weight arrives; spring is a good time to look for damage the winter left behind, such as cracked forks, hanging limbs and new leans. After any big ice or wind storm, a look at the trees near your house is worth the time.

What you get

We tell you, tree by tree, what we see and what we would do: no action, pruning, cabling or bracing to support a weak fork where it makes sense, monitoring, or removal. If you want the work done, we write it up as an itemized quote. If a tree needs a closer diagnosis, such as testing for internal decay or identifying a disease, we will say so and suggest you have an ISA Certified Arborist look at it.

About credentials

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certifies arborists who meet its experience and exam requirements and keep up with continuing education. You can check whether someone holds the credential on ISA's website. For any tree company, it is also fair to ask for a current certificate of liability insurance and workers' compensation sent directly from the insurer before work starts.