Tree Hazard Mitigation

     

    What does it mean?

    • Tree hazard mitigation means reducing the potential of trees to hurt people, damage property, and waste money.
    • Hazard trees can hurt the community at any time, but the biggest losses come with storm damage due to wind, ice, and flooding.

    How do you do it?

    • You mitigate hazards by managing old and new trees with practices 1) based on reliable and recent research, and 2) designed to minimize costs and risks.

     

     

    Old Trees

    New Trees

    Write and enforce a tree ordinance

    Identify and analyze planting sites

    Conduct a tree inventory

    Select recommended species suitable to site

    Have experts identify hazard potential

    Purchase quality street trees

    Prune properly and at correct time

    Plant correctly, especially the depth

    Eliminate hazards before disasters

    Minimize injury to young trunk

    Set up regular maintenance regime

    Establish early training schedule

    Avoid root damage during construction

    Mulch roots out to dripline

     

    Why does it matter?

    • After the 1991 ice storm, it cost about $45 million to clean up tree-related damage.
    • The 1995 microburst felled hundreds of thousands of trees and killed 6 persons.
    • A northeastern city recently lost a tree-negligence lawsuit for $1.2 million.

    Where can I get more information?

    • Each of the practices listed above will be the topic of its own Factsheet. If you have lost or misplaced Factsheets already sent to you, call your local Cooperative Extension or DEC offices for a copy.


    For other information, advice and help you might need to improve your tree management, contact those same offices or the Community Forestry Education Project at Cornell Cooperative Extension, Monroe County (716-461-1000).