A beautiful garden can enhance your home and property values, but it can also present some unexpected risks to your house and family. Read on about some of the hidden dangers you may find lurking in your garden:
Dead Trees and Loose Branches
One garden danger can come from dead or dying trees. A dead or dying tree presents a danger when it gets unstable, falls down, or drops branches, perhaps hitting and damaging your home. You might be able to spot a dangerous tree by simply inspecting it closely. Consider whether it is leaning, whether the leaves look healthy, and whether the branches are drooping. If you notice any of these symptoms, your tree may be in bad shape. You should consider having it cut down or removed before it falls.
Normal, healthy trees do drop branches and limbs from time-to-time. However, these too can present some danger. Those branches and limbs could damage property or hit a person, on their way to the ground. They can also hit electrical lines. Once on the ground, they could become trip hazards. It is important to have your tree branches and limbs pruned or trimmed back skillfully by a professional arborist to prevent these hazards.
Tree Stumps and Roots
If you have a tree cut down, there may be a stump left behind. These too can present a hazard as a person or animal may trip over an old stump. Wood-boring insects such as beetles, termites, and ants may be attracted to an old, decaying tree stump. This could give them a shortcut to your home. Some tree stumps can also sprout new growth, which will be costly to remove.
When you consider your trees, you also need to think about the parts you cannot typically see. Extensive tree roots can cause problems to plumbing, sidewalks, and property foundations. When tree roots arch up above ground, they can become trip hazards. They are also difficult to work around when maintaining your yard with equipment. If you have tree stumps or troublesome roots, you may want to bring in a professional arborist to safely and thoroughly remove them.
Poisonous Plants
Another hidden danger that could exist in your landscape is poisonous plants. Many of us are familiar with Poison Ivy and Poison Oak. Some plants look nice, but they can be dangerous to pets that might eat them. Examples include Hydrangea, Buttercups, and Mistletoe. If you have a Red Maple tree, be aware that the leaves can be toxic to horses. Certain mushrooms can also be dangerous to both pets and adults. It is helpful to screen your yard or have a professional arborist screen for, and remove these plants.
Spiders, Insects, and Pests
Your garden may play host to some uninvited guests in the form of spiders and insects. Some of these could pose dangers to your garden or home, such as Japanese Beetles. Others can pose a danger to humans and animals, such as wasps or bees. You may want to use pesticides to keep these pests away; however, those chemicals can also create risks to animals and small children. If you see these pests around your garden, you may want to consult with professionals, who can help eliminate them.
Having a garden is an appealing and inviting feature for a home, but it does require some work to maintain and keep it safe. Consulting with a professional tree service company is one step towards maintaining healthy trees and safe garden.