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| Welcome to our tree column, “Ask your local arborist.” Each month, arborists from the Davey Tree Expert Company in Menlo Park discuss a tree-related topic from general care and planting tips to how trees can impact your property. If you have a tree-related question or an idea for a topic to discuss, email lifestyle@embarcaderopublishing.com or post in the comments section at the end of this column. |
Did you know that some homeowners’ insurance policies include a requirement for property upkeep, such as keeping your trees pruned and healthy, to maintain your insurance coverage? This is because unkempt trees could pose a risk to your home and your neighbors’ property during storms and other disasters like fires.
To make sure your landscape meets safety requirements, check with your insurance agency, as well as state and local ordinances.
In recent years, due to the frequency and intensity of wildfires, state and local municipal requirements have changed in moderate- and high-risk areas to help prevent the spread of wildfires. On the Peninsula, Woodside and Portola Valley, for example, have passed stricter requirements regarding how much defensible space – the buffer between your home and the grass, trees, and any wildland area that surrounds it – needs to be maintained around a person’s property.
Trees and homeowners’ insurance quick facts
Is tree removal covered by home insurance?
Many homeowners and renters’ insurance policies keep you covered if high winds, hail and other types of storms take down trees. Often, policies don’t cover tree claims if the tree falls but doesn’t damage your home or any structures, like a garage or fence. Either way, there’s usually a clause. If a tree needed to be removed before a storm, you could be looking at an out-of-pocket expense.
How much do tree damage insurance claims cost?
The national average for winter wind claims is around $7,000, According to the Insurance Information Institute (III) research.
Will I have to pay for tree damage insurance claims? Will my insurance rate increase?
Two out of three homeowners are underinsured, so often, they end up having to pay additional costs. For those with insurance, after a single claim is filed, your insurance rates could increase by an average of 9%, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
How can I avoid costly tree damage insurance claims?
Be proactive with your tree care and schedule regular tree inspections.
If you’re aware of the tree’s risk ahead of time, you have a better chance of
preventing damage.
For insurance agencies, trees also have become a bigger focus as companies seem more proactive in canceling homeowner policies over tree-related issues. Some homeowners in Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and Palo Alto reportedly have had their policies canceled in recent years because of things like tree branches that weren’t cleared away from their roof in a timely manner, according to posts on neighborhood-based social media apps like Nextdoor.
Having the trees pruned on your property and addressing any potential problems can easily become part of your spring-cleaning to-do list. Here are some tips on how to get started.
Tools you’ll need for tree pruning
Pruning shears
Hand pruners are best for simple, clean cuts on thin tree twigs about ½ inch in diameter. To touch up small, live branches, look for bypass pruning shears. This tool resembles a large pair of scissors and is good for trimming twigs at awkward angles. Anvil pruning shears have a straight knife-like edge and should only be used on dead twigs.
Loppers
For medium-sized branches that require a longer handle and sturdier blade, loppers are the way to go. They can cut branches up to 2 inches thick.
Pole Pruner
Pole pruners can extend 10 to 15 feet to reach deadwood in any tree. Invest in a pole pruner with both a bypass blade and pruning saw – the bypass blade can handle branches about 2 inches thick while the saw trims slightly larger limbs.
For your safety, you should always consult your local arborist before pruning anything over your head or that requires a ladder to reach.
DIY vs. leave it to the pros
More advanced jobs should be left to a certified arborist. Tree pruning can be a dangerous task, so keep these things in mind to ensure you and your property remain safe:
- Do not attempt to prune branches near power lines.
- Never climb a ladder to reach branches at a risky height. If you can’t comfortably reach a branch with an extended pole pruner, call your local arborist.
- Don’t attempt to cut branches that are too thick for your pruning tools. Those types of cuts require heavy-duty arborist equipment.
Signs of an unhealthy tree
How can you tell if a tree needs to be removed? Trees show signs of stress and illness, just like we do. Some signs and symptoms to look out for:
- Injured branches or limbs after a storm
- Splits or cracks in the tree
- Leaning trees
- Leaves changing color or dropping too early in the year
- Wilting or yellowing leaves on newly planted trees
- Spotted or brown leaves after rainy season
Thanks for reading our tree column, “Ask your local arborist.” Each month, arborists from The Davey Tree Expert Company in Menlo Park will discuss a tree-related topic, specific to the Palo Alto area. If you have a tree-related question or an idea of a topic to discuss, email them here. If you are interested in having an arborist come to your property to assess the trees in your landscape before listing your home, call 866-923-5658 or visit www.Davey.com/menlopark.
George Reno is a local arborist at The Davey Tree Expert Company in Menlo Park, which serves communities on the Peninsula, including Menlo Park, Atherton, Palo Alto and Redwood City. Reno can be reached at 866-923-5658.
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