Trees are actually excellent for the environment. They take in the carbon dioxide and give out oxygen, so it is actually very healthy to have lots of trees around. If there are a lot of trees in a neighbourhood, it means that there are a lot of shades for properties around. The important thing to remember though is the positioning of your trees around your property. You want to be able to get the winter sun onto your property, but you also want to block off some of that summer hot sun.
Another thing to remember is if you have a lot of leaf fall, you are going to get a bit of grime, dirt and sticks into your gutters. This can actually block the gutters and prevent water from draining away properly to soak wells. What then happens is that you actually get back-filled into your eaves, and you do not want that to happen. So, make sure you use gutter guard to prevent the leaf build-up in your gutters or get up regularly, clean out your gutters, make sure that the leaf drop from the trees around your house aren’t affecting the way you handle water.
If you have branches that overhang your home, make sure that you trim them back, so they can’t fall on your house and cause any damage.
Old stumps around your house that have not been property ground down create the ideal scenario for termites to move in and use them as a source of food. If you have got an old stump around, get rid of it.
A tree can also be a location for termite nest. Although a termite test isn’t necessarily going to kill your tree, you need to be aware that sometimes termites can go up to 50 metres from the original nest in search of food, and this could put your home at risk. All the matting that’s occurring in a tree can be a sign of termite infestation.
As much as you would probably like to save your tree, it could continue to cause substantial damage to your property. Unfortunately, removing a tree is not as easy as you might think. You can’t just call a tree removal service and hire them to cut a tree. You need to have a permit before you can do any of these things. Local councils mete out harsh fines to people who take down a tree without authority.
So, how do you go about doing this? Remember that rules vary from one area to another, but these are the general steps to follow when applying for a tree removal permit.
1. Inquire from your local council. Your local council will be able to point you to the right direction. They will tell you whom to request permits from and whom to approach for the actual tree removal process.
2. Fill out the application form. Once you have decided to apply for the permit, you can then request for the application form and pay the required application fee.
3. The local authority concerned will evaluate the tree. Although this is not commonly done, if there is a need to do specialised testing, you will have to shoulder the expense for this testing. An aborist will perform the test.
4. Written report will be sent to the local council and the applicant.
5. The written determination will be displayed in front of the property for two days prior to the removal of the tree. The terms of this requirement may vary depending on your state’s regulations regarding tree removal.
6. Disputes between neighbours over a tree will be referred to the appropriate authority for dispute resolutions. It is important that you try to resolve the issue between you and your neighbour before you resort to the court for resolution. If neighbours fail to resolve the problem, you may have to fill in an application for tree pruning instead. Again, the property will be evaluated, and the tree owner will be notified of the evaluation results.
7. Once you obtain the permit, you can then hire a good company to remove the tree for you. Make sure that the company you hire has the required public liability insurance, so they will be able to cover for any damage resulting from accidents during the tree removal process.
A tree is a wonderful thing, but if it is causing substantial damage to your property, it is a good idea to have it removed. A property inspection will help determine whether your tree is causing extensive damage to your property or not.
