As well as being beautiful, trees are essential to life on earth. They provide the oxygen in the air that we breathe and on an emotional and mental level, it is proven that being around trees can help to lower the feelings of mental health conditions like anxiety. It is little wonder then that many of us love having a tree in our garden, or near to our home.
Having a tree to watch through the seasons – to see the buds appear in the spring, to seek shade from in the winter, to watch the autumnal coloured leaves in the autumn and to see as a skeleton like shape in the winter is so therapeutic and helps us to connect with the natural world. However, although most trees near to the home don’t cause many problems, being aware of potential issues will help your tree to stay healthy and you to stay safe!
Many of us have seen the news and the scenes of fallen trees all over the country after the recent storms. Trees that have been blown down in storms can cause a lot of damage when they are near to your home, ultimately, they could fall down on your roof, or onto you. Making sure that your tree is safe and stable is something that you will need to get an expert to do. A qualified and experienced tree surgeon will be able to have a look at the tree and advise you on this, so if you do see a warning of high winds, it is best to get trees near to your home checked beforehand.
As well as the top of the tree the roots can also cause damage. The roots of a tree can go a long way and spread further than the canopy of the tree itself. Certain types of soil can also make some damage more likely. For example, some types of clay soil can put you at more risk of subsidence caused by tree roots growing under the home.
Something else that can be damaged by the roots of trees are drains. If you are worried that this might be causing a problem, a professional who does drain lining surveys such as www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/sewer-repairs-drain-lining-concrete-cutting/drain-lining can have a look in the drains around your home for you and see if the roots have got into them. Tree roots are incredibly strong, so they can easily enter drains looking for the moisture that is in them.
Other signs that you may notice of damage being caused by the roots of trees around your home are slabs of paving being lifted or moved, or even outdoor structures like sheds being moved. Damages to guttering should also be looked out for, as the branches can cause damage to this when they are near the house.