Tree Trimming For Wildfire Prevention In Beaverton
Wildfire prevention is a priority for many governments and forest management groups. With the rising temperature and climate changes, forests are experiencing more drought and heat waves, which increases the risk of wildfires.
Trees can become hazardous when they are poorly maintained or when they are overgrown. When trees and shrubs are pruned at appropriate intervals, however, this reduces the fire hazard.
Beaverton has a group of volunteers that help with tree trimming to prevent wildfires. These volunteers come out twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall, to help with these tasks.
These volunteers not only help reduce the potential for wildfire by clearing away deadwood and pruning trees and shrubs, but also helps create better habitats for birds and other small creatures.
Call a qualified tree trimmer
Once you have located a tree trimmer, or if you are a tree trimmer yourself, there are some important things to know about how to properly trim trees.
First, make sure all of the tree trimmers are trained and certified in the use of chainsaws. Not all chainsaws are safe for use by the public, so check that your tree trimmer uses a safety-certified saw.
Secondly, make sure that all personnel involved in the trimming have adequate protective gear. This includes protective goggles, ear plugs, and heavy-duty leather gloves.
Thirdly, check with your local arborist association to see if they offer any training on how to properly trim trees for wildfire prevention.
Prepare your trees for trimming
Now is the time to have your trees professionally trimmed. As trees grow, they develop branches. Some branches are more developed than others, making them less useful and potentially dangerous.
Tree specialists will come and carefully cut some of the less developed branches to keep the tree healthy and balanced.
This process is called pruning and is an important part of tree care. When performed correctly, pruning can help your tree survive a wildfire.
To do this properly, specialists use a special tool called a lopper to cut the branches. They must also wear fire resistant gear due to the potential for fire caused by the cutting process.
Avoid over-trimming your trees
A few years ago, it was trendy to remove trees entirely from your property. Some neighborhoods even had policies that required tree removal.
This is a dangerous trend that should be stopped immediately. Trees are a valuable asset to your property!
Trees provide shade, cooling effect for your home and landscaping, natural beauty, and wood for gardening accessories.
Removing all trees is not only expensive, but it also opens up space for grasses to burn. Grasses are flammable material and increase the risk of wildfire spreading.
Be sure to only trim trees that need it and only as much as needed. Even if your tree does not need trimming, doing so in preparation can prevent further damage or death later on.
Know the signs of tree distress
Trees are a beautiful part of any landscape, but tall trees can be a concern when it comes to property safety.
Trees can fall onto houses, cars, people- pretty much anything. As wildfires become more prevalent, the need to keep trees away from surrounding land and property grows.
If trees are in need of care, such as needing to be pruned or have dead wood removed, then that is an important preventative measure against wildfires.
Having adequate space between trees and shrubs and grass helps prevent the potential for fires to start. When vegetation is very dry and dense, it becomes harder to keep that under control.
We know that dousing your trees in water is not the best way to prevent wildfire damage, but what else can we do? Well, there are a few things you can do to help prevent tree stress in your landscape.
Understand the timing for trimming your trees
Tree trimming is an important part of woodland management that many people overlook. You should consider having your trees trimmed at least once a year, and even twice a year if you live in a coastal area where trees are prone to saltwater damage.
Tree surgeons use several methods to ensure your trees are protected against wildfire, drought, and poor growth. These professionals know the ideal shape of your tree based on its species and what shape promotes healthy growth.
They also know the appropriate height to cut off of the tree trunk to promote new growth. Too short a cut off will inhibit growth, too long will increase the risk of drought damage.
Lastly, they know how to prune the trees to prevent dead limbs. Too few pruned limbs and the tree is at risk for dieback disease, too many and there is a higher potential for fire spread.
Use proper equipment for trimming your trees
When trimming trees, make sure you have the right tools to do the job correctly. If you are just pruning small trees, you can probably get by with a pair of sturdy loppers.
For taller trees that need more substantial pruning, you will need a pole saw to cut the tree branches all the way down to the trunk. Make sure your pole saw has a sharp blade to easily cut through the tree branches.
Making sure your trees are well-pruned will help prevent wildfires in your area. As mentioned before, when trees intertwine, they create more potential for fire to spread. By pruning your trees, you are reducing this potential.
Beaverton Fire Prevention advises residents to prune their trees at least once a year. This helps keep your trees healthy while also preventing the spread of wildfire through prevention of intertree entanglement.
Follow recommended pruning guidelines
Tree experts and arborists have developed tree trimming recommendations that are intended to preserve the health of trees while making them less susceptible to wind damage and tree-to-tree collisions.
These guidelines are also intended to prevent tree limbs from reaching power lines, which can lead to costly repairs. By following these guidelines, residents can help reduce the risk of these hazards.
The main points of pruning for wildfire prevention include: removing dead and weak branches, thinning out dense areas of foliage, and keeping trees shaped in a regular shape. All of these points help prevent wildfires by reducing fuel for the fire.
By removing dead branches and thinning out dense areas of foliage, there is less material for the fire to burn. Keeping trees shaped in a regular shape helps prevent wind damage which would otherwise cause more casualties among trees.
Know what types of trees you have
If you do not know what kind of trees you have, then you cannot know what precautions to take. There are several resources to find out what kind of trees you have in your yard.
Online tree identification websites allow you to upload a photo of the tree and get its identification. These sites also provide advice on how to care for the tree based on its type.
Neighbors can also help identify trees in your neighborhood, especially if they have the same types of trees. Local nurseries and hardware stores may also be sources for tree identification.
Removing dead or dying branches is an important part of tree care, and this helps prevent potential wildfires. By knowing what kind of tree you have, you can further your prevention efforts.
