We offer consulting services for tree health inquiries, risk assessments, pre-construction reports, inventories, and tree care plans.

Risk Assessments

WHY YOU MIGHT NEED A RISK ASSESSMENT

In some cases, a potentially hazardous tree may not be on your property. Perhaps it is a town tree or owned by a neighbour. If the tree is in bad shape or has been neglected after storm damage has occurred, a tree risk assessment can be helpful when approaching the owner with a request to address the tree and its potential risk. If the owner can see the risk associated with the tree, they may be more likely to do something about it.

In many cases, a tree that carries some risk can be mitigated by pruning and follow up inspection. Crown reductions are a good technique for lowering the chance of failure. In other cases, a tree may be an imminent risk and will have to be removed.

At Baum Tree Care, it is our goal to mitigate risk while ensuring the urban forest remains healthy and beneficial to the community for years to come.

What is a Tree Risk Assessment?

A tree risk assessment is a report outlining detailed information on the current state of a tree, the risks associated with its failure, and proposed solutions for mitigating risk.

Our Tree Risk Assessments

At Baum Tree Care, our tree risk assessments are based on ISA standards and include:

  • A target assessment, identifying permanent or moving targets in the area, which could be at risk from the tree in question. Eg people, houses, cars.
  • Site factors that may affect the stability of the tree, such as damage to root structure, or changes in grading.
  • Risk categorization for the various defects outlined above — in order of priority.
  • A tree health and species profile that describes the current health of the tree, along with a summary of problems common to that particular species.
  • A consideration of load factors, such as protection or exposure to wind, competition from other trees, or potential ice formation in winter.
  • A list of current tree defects and other conditions affecting the likelihood of failure, looking specifically at the crown, trunk, and root structure of the tree.
  • Mitigation options for treating the tree in the future, which may include pruning, crown reductions, or even a full tree removal in certain cases.

Tree Care Plans

WHAT IS A TREE CARE PLAN?

A tree care plan includes a list of work necessary for every tree on your property, and includes shrubs. This plan allows you to create a list of priorities, based on the risks to people, property, and trees themselves.

Tree care plans are ideal for homeowners with larger properties, or for property managers looking to care for the grounds of an institution or commercial facility. A tree care plan will provide you with a detailed, long-term strategy for your whole property.

Imminent risks can be addressed right away and others can be scheduled for future years, based on your needs. For example, storm damaged trees will be a priority for the current year, while trees with minor defects can wait for a year or two before the work is completed.

FAQ

How do I know if I have a dangerous/hazardous tree?

If you have any safety concerns with a tree on your property we recommend that you have a Risk Assessment performed by a TRAQ Certified Arborist. A Risk Assessment will provide you with a comprehensive look at any defects that are present in your tree and will provide you with options for risk mitigation. Discussing the assessment with an experienced Arborist will give you a better idea of the true risks associated with your trees and will help you make better, more informed decisions for tree care.  

Who can perform a risk assessment?

An ISA Certified Arborist who holds a current Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) must perform Tree Risk Assessments.

What is the difference between Arborist Reports and Risk Assessments?

Risk Assessments are typically short form reports that identify defects and make recommendations based on the findings of the assessment. These are good for identifying high risk trees and helping people make decisions to mitigate risk. Homeowners, property managers, or even municipalities and cities use Risk Assessments to make decisions about their trees.

Arborist Reports usually take the form of in-depth, multi-page reports. These include much of the same details that a Risk Assessment would have, but with more information, obtained through more advanced assessment techniques. These types of reports can look very different depending on who the audience is, what the goals of the report are, and many other factors. Townships and developers often request these types of reports when there may be an impact on large groups of trees.   

What options do I have after an assessment?

There are a number of options after you have an assessment performed. After reading the report, you will have a better understanding of the tree and the level of concern associated. If there is little concern, you can choose to leave the tree as is.

Alternatively, the tree may require mitigation measures to address issues found. In this case, we will outline a number of options in your assessment. You may choose whichever option that you feel is most suitable. We always recommend discussing the options provided with an Arborist to help you make the best, most informed decision. 

Contact us for a quote for consulting and risk assessment today!

Our tree care plans will typically span multiple years, providing advice for the next five years. A Baum Tree Care Plan will include:

  • A detailed quote including recommendations for each item
  • A timeline prioritizing each item based on risk of failure and need for immediate action
  • A schedule for follow-up