Having beautiful big trees in your garden is both a privilege and a responsibility. Large old trees can provide shade for your home, increase the value of your property and enhance your landscaping but they can also be a potential hazard. Extreme weather conditions, violent storms, and strong winds can blow trees over or send branches crashing through windows and onto roofs or cars, and somebody has to take responsibility for those damages. And these damages can oftentimes cost far more than having tree removal completed.You need to be a responsible tree ownerTrees are a wonderful asset, but you have to take responsibility for the health and safety of the trees on your property. You need to make sure that your trees are well maintained and that old, dead or dying trees are removed before they become a threat to your safety or property. In most cases, your homeowner’s insurance will cover the costs of removing fallen trees or repairing damage to your home after a storm, but you don’t really want it to go that far. It is much better to prevent the problem in the first place, rather than dealing with the cost and inconvenience of expensive and time-consuming home repairs.The city is responsible for their trees but if a city-owned tree falls on your property you will not automatically be compensated. If you make a claim, an investigation will first take place to assess the health of the tree and its maintenance history. With this in mind, you should always notify the city official of any city trees bordering your property that are rotting or pose a danger to you or your home. If your neighbour’s dead or damaged tree falls on your home, they are responsible for the damage but the same is true if your tree falls on their property. However, when a healthy tree falls on your home during a storm, your home insurance is liable to cover the damage, not your neighbour’s insurance or the city.When you weigh up the costs of your insurance, the cost of the repairs, incidental costs and the inconvenience of moving out of your home, you will look at the cost of tree removal in a whole new light.When is tree removal necessary?An old tree on your property could be home to an owl or a family of friendly squirrels but hanging onto that tree isn’t necessarily the right thing to do and sadly there comes a time when all old trees have to go. But before you cut down a tree, it is always best to get advice from a certified arborist. They will inspect your trees and assess the situation critically before offering advice based on the health and location of the tree.Reasons for removing an old tree:Large, dead branches that are a threat to your personal safety or property.Severely damaged in a storm.Dying of disease, internal decay or infestation and cannot be saved.Roots have spread under the foundations of your home and pose a risk to the structural integrity of your property.The tree is leaning at a precarious angle and could fall on your house.Outgrown the yard.Infected by emerald ash borer.Professional tree removalTree removal is not a simple undertaking and one incorrect cut can cause serious injury to yourself or damage to your property. It is always best to get a professional tree removal service to tackle the problem and at Martin’s Tree Service we have the experience and equipment to remove trees safely. Contact us today to get a qualified arborist to do a proper risk assessment of the trees on your property. Steve Martin I have a profound interest in trees and their natural beauty. I grew up on a hobby farm ten minutes north of Waterloo and spent many winters in the bush collecting firewood to heat our family home. It was definitely work, so I wasn’t always eager as a young boy to help my father and big brother, but I learned to love the process... READ MORE