Tree Questions or Problems?
Yes, MHBI inspects trees. If you have questions or concerns about your trees, landscape care of trees by others, or have an estimate for tree trimming which you would like to have reviewed, we can help.
Why Inspect Trees in the wild are subject to the effects of Nature - sometimes good and sometimes affected by the surrounding trees, vines, wild animals, insect infestation, stormwater flooding, or neighboring roads and private property construction.
Trees in residential or commercially developed properties are affected by the infrastructure which surrounds them, including paved areas, road traffic, extreme grading, extreme placement, and rainwater drainage, which, in many cases adds stresses to their development and life. When trees begin to show stresses - by dropping leaves, showing dead branches higher in the canopy, or other unusual and visual conditions, calling in someone knowledgeable to give an opinion and possibly a hopeful diagnosis of the issues should be considered. Tree Review & Inspection
With decades working with and around trees, and our love of trees, MHBI can provide a review of the most common issues which affect trees surrounding the built environment. In commercial applications, we typically recommend training of, or replacement if landscapers are over mulching (creating tree volcanoes) or damaging the bark on trees. Some disease or infestation situations may require testing by a third-party lab, while others may require review by a certified arborist, biologist or plant specialist. Due to the significant increase in non-native disease infections and insect infestations, some trees may not have a healthy recovery no matter what is done.
Tree Protection & Safety
More respect for the environmental conditions and ecosystem community below the soil line have resulted from research and understanding in recent decades, creating a broader view of tree care and protections. The care and protections fall into several basic categories:
■ Trunk Volcanoes - Over-mulching around the base of a tree ■ Deep Cutbacks - Removing large branches on some species will not recover & heal ■ Pavement - Paving or digging too near the root circumference can damage health ■ Location - Planting too close to other objects or on slopes can limit longevity & growth ■ Stormwater - Pooling of water in low lying areas can cause root suffocation & death ■ Physical Damage - Cuts into & thru trunk bark (girdling) can cause death of trees ■ Infestations - From termites to attacks by specialized insect species ■ Disease - A multitude of newer microbial pests are damaging specific species State & Local Tree Regulations
Most trees on residential private property are generally not covered by state and local regulations for tree removal and planting, however, laws change annually so investigation is necessary before making any major changes. For more information about the effects of trees on your or a neighbor's property, review the Tree Law Primer linked in the section below this one.
■ Virginia State Regulations - Virginia Tree Ordinance Database ■ VA - Fairfax County Tree Information ■ MD - Montgomery County Tree Ordinances Info |
More Information
We want to thank the following organizations for providing valuable information:
■ Casey Trees - DC Local Tree List & Information
■ Tree Law Primer in Virginia - Tingen Law
■ Maryland Tree Owner's Manual - PDF
■ Casey Trees - DC Local Tree List & Information
■ Tree Law Primer in Virginia - Tingen Law
■ Maryland Tree Owner's Manual - PDF