Arborist Answers: Why Trim those Hanging Branches?

We all love big old trees with thick trunks and twisted branches, they are great for climbing and building children’s treehouses. Large trees add character and charm to your Waterloo property, and planted close to your house can also offer much-needed shade in the summer months. But trees planted around your home need to be well maintained and trimmed regularly. They can’t just be left to grow wild and unattended. ​

​As any arborist will tell you, it is important to keep a close eye on the trees up against your house. Unfortunately, this is not always easy and you don’t necessarily notice the dead branches until they crash down onto the roof of your house. The best advice is to deal with any overhanging branches immediately before they become a problem or cause significant damage to your property or, worse still, pose a serious risk to your personal safety.

Dangers of Overhanging Branches

We’ve all witnessed how trees bend and twist in the wind. During heavy storms and high winds, branches can be blown all over the place. Depending on the size of the branch, you could end up with anything from minor damage to major problems. Storms can easily rip branches off trees and send them crashing onto your roof or through your windows. Falling branches and collapsing roofs can seriously injure someone in the house.

Low overhanging branches can damage your house even if they don’t break. Besides the irritating noise these branches make when they rub against your roof or windows, they can scrape and scratch roof tiles and shingles, loosening them and causing damage that eventually leads to leaks and other problems.

Fall is a spectacular time of year around the country but it can also be a property owner’s nightmare. If not cleared off the roof, leaves from overhanging trees can block the gutters and clog the downpipes. When the rain starts these blocked gutters will overflow, potentially causing extensive damage to the walls and roof of your home. This can be anything from the growth of mold on your roof and the formation of ice dams to the deterioration of roof materials and shingles, and interior water damage from leaks.

Your Neighbour’s Trees

What if the beautiful big tree overhanging your home is not planted on your property. What then? You don’t want to cause bad blood with your neighbours by taking a chainsaw to their precious tree but you also don’t want a stray branch to damage your house. You have every right to cut the branch if it is on your property but it is better not to do it without first talking to your neighbour. Also be aware that if you do take matters into your own hands, you could be responsible for any damage to the tree. The best advice is to have a meeting with your neighbour and a professional arborist to discuss all the options. ​

Hire a Professional

Tree trimming is dangerous and highly specialized work. Trying to do the job yourself, on the cheap, could lead to more problems than it solves. You can’t just climb up on your roof and start hacking away at any overhanging branches. You could easily slip and fall, and one wrong cut could send a huge branch crashing down onto your roof, or even worse on top of you. You could also severely damage the tree if you don’t know what you’re doing.

When looking for a tree trimming service, do your homework and don’t just employ any fly-by-night with a ladder and a chainsaw. Find a certified arborist, like Martin’s Tree Services in Waterloo, to do the work for you. They will have the necessary training, skills, and tools to carry out the job safely and efficiently, without risk to you or your property.