Will a lightning strike instantly kill my tree?

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Nature is unpredictable and severe weather often poses the biggest threat to trees. The temperature of a lightning flash can be 30,000C – five times hotter than the sun – and it doesn’t take a tree expert to realise this can inflict significant damage.

But some trees can and do recover from such an injury, the problem for tree surgeons is predicting the extent of the damage. And the future life expectancy.

The ability of a tree to withstand a lightning strike very much depends on the species and moisture content. It also depends on the health of the tree to start with. A healthy tree should be able to cope with such an injury better than one already suffering disease or decay but the intensity of the strike will be the deciding factor.

A tree can be killed instantly by a lightning strike or significantly weakened.  Anything tall including buildings and statues are at risk of lightning damage. But trees are a common victim because of the moisture they contain within the tissues inside the tree bark. This makes them much better conductors of electricity.  The electrical current places the tree’s inner cells under intense heat which can cause the drier bark on the outside to explode off in large chunks.

Will a lightning strike instantly kill my tree? Prince Tree SurgerySome species are more prone to lightning strikes than others. These include the sequoia, poplar, cedar, and Douglas fir. Some trees can explode from core and some suffer a longer split down the trunk.

The damage can sometimes be lessened if the outside of the tree is rain soaked as the current may instead be limited to the outside of the trunk. However, severe lightning bolts have split trees in two and caused them to set fire from the inside.

Any tree which has been struck by lightning should be assessed to ensure it is still safe and doesn’t pose a threat to anybody. This examination should only take place once the storm has subsided and there is no threat of further lightning. More people are struck by lightning close to trees or water than anywhere else.

A qualified tree surgeon will be able to safely assess the safety of the tree. Any jagged or insecure branches will be removed immediately and the appointed tree expert will be able to determine the general health of the tree.

It is very difficult to determine how well a tree will fight back from a lightning strike and sometimes a ‘wait and see’ approach is the only option. Injured trees will be more prone to insects, disease and decay so while they might initially survive the lightning strike, the damage could worsen as the months or years go by.

Any tree which is immediately dangerous to people or property should be removed instantly.

It is possible to protect historic trees or trees which are close to properties by implementing a lightning protection system. Such a system uses copped conductors which are linked to a ground rod to route any electrical charge to the earth where the energy is dispersed. This reduces tree damage and the possibility of side flashes. This is a situation where lightning jumps from a tree to more conductive materials on a property close by.

Brentwood Tree Surgeons Prince Tree Survery

Why would I need a tree report?

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Prince Tree Surgery - Professional Tree Surgeon in BrentwoodThere are many occasions when a tree report might be necessary. As professional tree surgeons, we get called out by homeowners who are concerned about the risks posed by a particular tree in their garden and also planners who want to make the best use of an area of land when designing new building projects. We also help public sector and commercial business owners assess the potential dangers of trees to the public and members of staff.

 

A tree survey records important information about a tree so owners or site managers can decide what action needs to be taken in the future to protect people and property. The report will record the species of the tree, its vital statistics including height and diameter, its age and most importantly its overall health – whether it shows any evidence of disease, injury of pest infestation and any areas of damage. The report will also estimate life expectancy and make recommendations on what steps should be taken to ensure it remains healthy in the future.

 

Some mortgage companies require a tree report to be carried out before agreeing to a loan because in rare cases, tree roots can cause damage to the foundations of a property which may result in structural movement and subsidence. Insurance companies might also ask for a tree survey to determine cover and liability.

 

Trees are the responsibility of a landowner and you have a duty of care to make sure your trees are safe under the Occupiers Liability Act 1984. An insurance company will not accept liability and pay out damages to anyone injured as a result of a fallen tree if the homeowner didn’t seek professional advice on the risks it posed and take reasonable steps to solve any problems. This means the homeowner could be held personally accountable for such an incident and face private litigation.

 

A tree report is a useful way of maintaining a regular record of a tree’s health and could include photographs for evidential purposes. It could also incorporate a tree safety policy to limit liability for homeowners and private businesses. By following the recommended advice, tree owners are complying with their responsibility to safeguard the public and property from dangerous trees.

 

Tree surgery has advanced considerably in recent years and a wide range of technology is now available to help conduct non-invasive tests measuring decay. Such processes will reduce the inconvenience to homeowners and businesses and help to protect healthy species.

Who is responsible for clearing a fallen tree?

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There are many reasons why a tree may fall. An old, diseased or dead tree may have been leaning for many years before finally falling or an ‘act of God’ such as strong winds or a bolt of lightning may cause a perfectly healthy tree to fall without warning.

Whatever the reason, a fallen tree is not only unsightly, but if in the wrong place and causing an obstruction, can be potentially dangerous. Even in the relative safety of your back garden, it can become harmful as it decays; therefore it is imperative that it is removed as quickly as possible.

But who is responsible for clearing a fallen tree? It can depend on a number of factors: ownership, location and reason for falling.

Ownership

A major part in determining who is responsible for removing a tree is dependent on who it belongs to. Most land, and the trees growing on it, will belong to a person, company or authority, such as a council.

Once ownership has been ascertained, they can be held responsible for either removing the tree themselves, or paying a company such as Prince Tree Surgery to clear it on their behalf, particularly if another party is able to prove negligence on the owner’s part.

Location

It’s pretty black and white when it comes to owning a tree that has fallen in your property – you are completely responsible for its removal and the associated costs.

However, if you own the tree but it falls on your neighbour’s land, you and your neighbour will be required to come up with an agreement on how the tree removal should be carried out. If any negligence on your part caused the tree to fall, you will be liable for any costs incurred.

Please note that you must seek permission from your neighbour to clear it; you can’t simply walk into their garden to clear up any damage. This is also true when it comes to dealing with public areas, and in certain circumstances, specialists may have to remove the tree immediately (it may be blocking a road), in which case, the local authority would probably take responsibility for its safe removal and then present you with an invoice.

Act of God

There are certain events such as lightning striking or gale force winds that may cause a tree to fall – these are called ‘acts of God’. In these circumstances, no-one is held responsible, although if you are the owner of the tree and it has fallen into a neighbour’s property, it would be good manners to offer to help remove it from their land.

However, if you have knowingly left a rotting or damaged tree in your garden and it falls, causing damage to another person or authority’s property, you will be considered negligent for not removing the tree despite the obvious risk.

Ultimately, whether you are the owner or not, if a tree had fallen on your land, you will most likely be responsible for its removal, even if someone else is responsible for the costs. At the very least you will have to agree a time when someone can visit your home and remove the tree and any debris. You may have to pay for the removal yourself and then pass the bill on to the person financially responsible, or in some cases, take the person you believe liable to court to recover your costs.

What’s the most dangerous tree you have ever had to deal with?

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We have dealt with some amazing trees in the 22 years we have been qualified as tree surgeons, but one that sticks in my mind was a large Oak tree that fell on to a local Care Home overnight in high winds. The challenge we had was to clear the tree from the roof without causing any more damage, whilst the most fragile residents were still in their beds as they couldn’t be moved! When we arrived there was a missive split in one of the branches and it was in danger of falling further into the windows on the ground floor. We had to make struts from some of the branches and use them like massive “forks” to prop up the tree and stop further movement. Then our expert climber Martin got onto the roof and started the delicate task of cutting the branches and throwing them to the ground – away from the property. It took a full day to remove the tree, the damage was not as bad as it could have been and the owners were really grateful for the care we took not to disturb the residents or let the tree fall further onto the home. The following day we returned to clear the site and remove the huge tree stump from the garden.

Why not view our video we have put together.

Try not to have sleepless nights lying awake listening to high winds, and worrying about that dangerous tree in your garden – give us a call at Prince Tree Surgery and we will happily come and do a FREE inspection for you and give you sound advice.

For more information just give us a call on 01277 229709 or view our services.

Love them or loathe them – Leylandii Hedges

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The Leylandii hedge is capable of growing to ridiculous heights if kept unchecked, and is probably one of the major causes of garden disputes between neighbours. If left unrestricted and properly pruned they can block sunlight into homes, limit views and even damage your neighbour’s garden, and yet over 300,000 Leylandii are still sold each year.

Did you know that the highest hedge in Britain is at The National Pinetum in Bedgbury, Kent? This specimen is a whopping 130ft (39.6m) and still rising, it is the tallest and oldest Cypress Leylandii in Britain.

Many people buy the trees to protect their privacy because they grow so quickly a good ‘screen’ is established very quickly – probably in one season. But if not managed properly they will soon be out of control and cause problems including not only annoying the neighbours, but also draining all the water and nutrients from the garden, and leaving it in heavy shade.

The law and high hedges

Legislation came into force in 2005, when the Government realised 17,000 people were in dispute over hedges. In fact, in 2003 a dispute over such a hedge ended when one man was arrested for allegedly shooting his neighbour dead. The accused was later found hanged in prison whilst awaiting trial for murder!

Now under the 2005 Anti-Social Behaviour Act there are remedies for disputes and local councils can charge fines of up to £1,000 if high hedges are not pruned to an acceptable height.

What is the definition of a high hedge?

The term ‘high hedges’ was subjective until it was defined by the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003: Part 8 in 2005. This is a summary of what constitutes a high hedge under the law:

  • Any hedge more than 2m tall (approx 6½ft) (there is extra guidance for hedge heights on slopes) is defined as ‘high’ and is formed of mainly evergreens (ie, they don’t lose their leaves in Winter).

The high hedges legislation has been designed so that the general public is able to use it without the need to involve a solicitor. This would be a simple sequence of events:

  • The first step is to negotiate with your neighbours and explain your concerns about blocking light etc… Keep a copy of any letters to demonstrate you have tried to resolve the problem yourselves.
  • If negotiation is unsuccessful, contact your local council to enquire about using the high hedges legislation. There is a hefty fee for making a complaint (typically £400) to deter silly complaints.
  • The local council will consider both sides’ cases and make a decision. They will reject the complaint or issue a notice for the work – including the period in which to cut the hedge back and by how much.

How we can help

We are very happy to come and visit your home to view a high hedge on your own property or that of a neighbour’s and advise you how to cut it back to a suitable height without resorting to the council. We always encourage neighbours to deal with any issues in a friendly and amicable way. For more information just give us a call here at Prince Tree Surgery on t: 01277 229709.