Tree Risk Assessment

Do you have concerns about a tree on your New York property? Unseen issues can turn a tree into a serious hazard for your home, family, or anyone nearby. At Dragonetti Tree Removal, we specialize in professional Tree Risk Assessment in New York. We are TRA certified arborists in New York, giving us the green light to thoroughly inspect your trees and help you make smart choices about their safety. We conduct all types of assessments, from initial visual checks to more detailed investigations.

What is a Tree Risk Assessment?

A Tree Risk Assessment (TRA) is like a health check-up for your trees. It’s a careful, organized evaluation performed by a qualified tree risk assessor. Our main goal is to determine if a tree, or any part of it, might fail and what the consequences of that could be. These assessments often happen before a removal or professional tree pruning services.

This specialized work can and must only be carried out by TRA certified arborists, who have specific training in tree risk assessment. We are proud to be qualified tree risk assessment certified arborists, a qualification from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). This means our team has completed the training and passed their exams.

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when to get a tree risk assessment

Why a Tree Risk Assessment is Important

Getting a professional tree risk assessment offers lots of advantages beyond just the health of your trees. It’s about protecting your property, managing costs, and saving the trees if we can.

  • Protection: Our assessments help lower the chance of tree failure, especially during severe weather. We will inform you about any dangers we see with a plan to fix them.
  • Tree Preservation: Finding problems early makes them much easier to address, often allowing us to save the tree. We always prefer to treat and preserve trees whenever possible.
  • Reducing Your Liability: As a property owner, you are responsible for the safety of your property. Neglected trees can lead to damage and legal issues if they fall or cause injury, which will be your responsibility. It’s good to get ahead of any issues, and we can answer any questions you have about this.

Our Tree Risk Assessment Process

During these assessments, we carefully examine many aspects of your tree: its overall health, any structural defects like cracks or weak branches, signs of decay or disease, the condition of its root system, and even factors like soil or its proximity to buildings, or if a tree is too close to your home. When we perform a tree risk assessment, we follow a systematic process based on industry standards.

Level 1: Limited Visual Assessment

This is an initial scan, often done from a distance. We look for obvious signs of risk to help us prioritize which trees might need a closer look. This is when we would be able to see something quite obvious (to us).

Level 2: Basic Tree Risk Assessment

This involves a more detailed, ground-level inspection. We walk around the tree, looking closely at its health and stability from all angles. We check for visible signs of decay, disease, and structural problems. This is where we gather the information for your detailed tree risk assessment report.

Level 3: Advanced Tree Risk Assessment

For trees with significant risk or those needing a deeper analysis, we use advanced diagnostic tools. This might include specialized equipment to look inside the tree’s trunk for hidden decay, or to examine its root system. These tools help us uncover issues that aren’t visible from the outside.

Understanding Tree Risk Level

After our tree risk assessment, we categorize trees into clear risk levels. These categories help you quickly understand your tree’s condition and decide on its future care.

Here are the four main risk categories we use:

Risk Category: Negligible

Likelihood of Failure: Very unlikely to fail, even during harsh weather.

Description: Robust trees exhibiting no apparent signs of structural weakness or branch loss.

Suggested Action: Conduct routine checks, maintain standard care practices.

Risk Category: Low

Likelihood of Failure: Not expected under typical conditions, but could occur in severe storms.

Description: Generally sound, though minor issues may be present. Could be impacted by extreme winds or heavy ice.

Suggested Action: Regular observation, consider proactive maintenance.

Risk Category: Moderate

Likelihood of Failure: Likely to fail, anticipated relatively soon under normal conditions.

Description: Displays clear indicators of potential failure, such as noticeable cracks, decay, or pest activity.

Suggested Action: Schedule intervention (e.g., pruning, bracing, treatment, or removal) at your earliest convenience.

Risk Category: High

Likelihood of Failure: Immediate risk of failure, even without adverse weather.

Description: Exhibiting severe signs of decline, extensive internal rot, or major structural damage. This is the most urgent classification.

Suggested Action: Urgent action is necessary, often involving emergency removal to ensure safety.

FAQs

Yes, alternatives include pruning (to remove hazardous branches), cabling and bracing (for structural support), soil management (to improve health), lightning protection, and regular monitoring.

Your report will give you a clear understanding of your tree’s condition and any identified risks. We’ll then discuss recommended actions, which could include pruning, installing support systems like cables, improving soil conditions, or managing diseases. The report will also show you the expected risk level after these actions are taken. Our goal is to provide practical solutions to manage risks.

When we assess your trees, we look for a range of signs that might point to a problem. This includes visible cracks or splits in the trunk or branches, signs of internal decay like cavities or fungal growth, and dead or dying branches. We also check for root issues, weak branch connections, and any unusual leaning. We consider the tree’s overall health and its surroundings, like how close it is to buildings or power lines.

A tree risk assessment significantly increases safety, but it cannot prevent every single accident. Even healthy trees can sometimes fail during extreme weather events. And freak accidents are very rare, but can never be written off, especially weather-related incidents. However, tree assessments are the best step you can take to prevent accidents.

Not at all. While older trees can certainly develop issues, young trees can also become hazards. A tree risk assessment benefits any homeowner with trees on their property, regardless of age.

Generally, no explicit legal requirements exist for homeowners to conduct tree risk assessments on their private property in New York. However, we strongly recommend them to keep your property safe and avoid potential liability issues. As a property owner, you have an obligation to keep your trees well-maintained and free of risk to guests or passersby. Neglected trees can lead to significant financial problems if they cause injury or property damage.

For properties within New York City, additional rules apply, especially for trees in the public right-of-way. The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation oversees all trees along streets, parkways, and in city parks.

  • Permits are required: Any work on or around street or park trees – including pruning, fertilizing, spraying, planting, or removing – needs a permit from NYC Parks.
  • Penalties for not following rules: If you don’t get the right permits before working on city trees, you could face arrest and prosecution. Most violations are misdemeanors, with fines up to $1,000 or even jail time. Removing a tree without a permit or damaging city trees are very serious offenses, with penalties up to $15,000 or up to a year in jail.
  • Reporting hazardous city trees: If you think a city tree is dangerous and needs immediate attention, you can call 311 or submit an online request. A Parks forester will then inspect the tree and address the issue if needed.