By Living Room Realty, October 23, 2020
It’s mid-October, we’ve had a couple of decent rain and windstorms, and the leaves are turning colors and starting to fall to the ground. The sound of a neighbor’s leaf blower midday on a Tuesday has us scrambling to hit “mute” on our Zooms.
Even Portlanders who love their trees and live for the beautiful fall colors are wincing with the knowledge that they will soon be spending the weekend raking and bagging leaves, hauling those bags to the curbside, and clearing gutters and drains, only to do it again the next weekend, and the one after that.
Think of autumn as tree time in the Pacific Northwest. It is an ideal time to assess the health of the trees on your property, especially those planted near your home or near powerlines.
The trees on your property gives homes to birds and other wildlife, provide shade, and enhance the look of your home and property. If not properly cared for, trees can also be accidents waiting to happen. A few years ago, as we were getting ready for school and work one morning, a huge crash suddenly shook the entire house. I was sure that a tree had fallen and hit our home. We ran outside, and realized that it was a neighbor’s house—a good 40 or 50 yards away—that had been hit by a falling limb. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but that experience made me aware of the potential danger. I called an arborist that very day.
And I recommend that you do the same! If you have never had your trees professionally inspected, it’s smart to do so. Make sure to choose an ISA-Certified arborist. This designation from the International Society of Arboriculture is your assurance that your tree guy or gal knows his or her stuff. I recommend the team at All Around Arbor Tree Service to clients, family, and friends. An arborist will help you to determine what type of care or intervention your trees might need, helping to keep the trees healthy, and ultimately, to help keep your property safe.
Further, make it a habit to visually assess your trees from season to season. Inspect for dying limbs and signs of pest damage. Prune branches as needed. Protect root systems with a 2–3 inch layer of mulch (but take care that the mulch doesn’t touch the bark of the tree). Over time, you’ll get to really know your trees. You might hug them, like a real Portlander. Or at the very least, you’ll be aware when something looks amiss, and you’ll be able to give your trees the care they need.
