A Hot Springs oak in October
October brings cool air to Hot Springs. The leaves still hang green on the branches. You stand in your yard. You look up at a massive oak or a tall pine.
The heavy limbs stretch out over your roof. You remember the thick ice that coats Garland County. Winter storms break huge branches. Freezing rain adds weight to the canopy. You wonder if your tree has the strength to survive another winter season. We do the fall tree inspection Hot Springs homeowners ask for before the freezing rain begins.
We visit local properties all fall to examine trees. We perform a strict inspection routine. We start at the ground and work our way up. We check specific parts of the tree in a specific order.
This process helps us find hidden problems early. According to the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension, “Hazard tree inspections offer the best protection against future storm damage.” A damaged tree faces extreme danger when winter weather strikes.
A weak limb snaps under a layer of ice. According to Jaret Rushing, an extension forestry instructor at the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, “It only takes about one-tenth of an inch of ice accumulation for damage to occur on weaker limbs or on trees that are small or previously damaged.” We look for those weaker limbs right now. We identify damage from past summer storms. We help you prepare the big oak for the harsh months ahead.
Start at the ground
We always begin our inspection at the base. The roots act as a massive anchor. They reach far out into the yard. They hold the heavy trunk up against strong winds.
A compromised root system puts the entire structure at risk. We examine the dirt around the base. We look for soil heave. This happens when the root plate pulls upward. The ground rises on one side of the trunk. This sign indicates a severe problem with the anchor roots.
We also watch for signs of fungal decay. Mushrooms often appear right after a fall rain. They feed on decaying roots below the surface.
The Arbor Day Foundation points out that “Mushrooms growing near the base of the tree or cracked or heaving soil can all point to root defects.” Fungi break down the structural roots. The roots lose their tight grip on the soil. You can read more about dangerous tree removal signs on our website.
We check for exposed roots in the yard. Heavy equipment sometimes crushes the root tissue. We look for cut roots near driveways. Digging a ditch for a water pipe causes major damage.
The Arbor Day Foundation notes that “Construction and trenching within a tree’s root zone is a leading cause of hazardous trees.” The severed roots die. The tree loses a large part of its foundation. We assess this damage carefully during the fall.
The trunk
Next, we inspect the main trunk. The trunk transfers water from the roots to the canopy. We look for deep cracks. We search for dark cavities.
A cavity is a hollow in the solid wood. Water gathers at the bottom of the cavity. Rot spreads outward from the hole. The trunk loses its strength.
Cracks in the bark need a close look. Missing bark leaves the tree vulnerable to decay. The Arbor Day Foundation states that “Cracks or splits in the tree’s trunk” have a high potential for failure.
We check the depth of each split. A shallow split might only affect the outer bark layer. A deep crack goes into the inner wood. A deep crack weakens the entire stem.
We pay special attention to the alignment of the cracks. Two cracks directly across from each other spell major trouble. The Arbor Day Foundation warns that “Two vertical cracks on opposite sides of the tree can indicate root injury and is extremely dangerous.” This pattern suggests the trunk is splitting down the middle. We check the surrounding area for missing bark.
The forks and unions
We move our eyes upward into the lower canopy. We look at the places where the trunk divides into large branches. We call these spots forks or unions. Ice storms test every single union.
Freezing rain gathers on the limbs. The weight pulls the long branches downward. A weak union fails under this heavy pressure. The branch rips away from the main trunk and falls to the ground.
We inspect the angle of the fork. A narrow V-shape makes a weak attachment point. Gerald Klingaman, retired Arkansas Extension horticulturist, writes that “Narrow crotch angles (those less than 45 degrees) often form when oaks grow crowded together, making them more susceptible to breakage.”
We look for included bark inside these tight angles. Included bark happens when bark gets trapped between two growing branches. The bark prevents the wood fibers from joining together. The branches act as a wedge against each other.
Ice causes the wedge to split the wood. Wide angles offer much better strength. The wood fibers knit together completely. The union resists the weight of winter ice naturally.
Gerald Klingaman explains that “White oaks (including post oaks if grown in the open) tend to have limbs with wide branch angles which approach 90 degrees.” Those wide angles hold up under heavy ice. We evaluate every major union over your house or driveway. The forks on a water oak need this same check, and our water oak tree guide shows where to start.
The crown
Then we look higher up into the canopy. The high branches make up the crown. We check for dead limbs hiding among the green foliage. Dead wood becomes highly brittle.
It snaps easily in January winds. The Arbor Day Foundation says, “Dead branches in a tree’s crown are commonly referred to as ‘widow makers’ because they pose a great threat to those below.” We identify these hazards before they break completely.
We watch for branches that have dead leaves. A healthy tree drops its leaves in autumn. A dead branch retains brown leaves long after the rest of the canopy falls bare.
Retired horticulturist Gerald Klingaman notes, “In most cases trees that hold their leaves instead of dropping them are in serious decline or already dead.” We mark these branches for immediate removal.
We assess the overall density of the crown. We look for thin spots. We search for signs of drought stress in trees. Past dry summers cause lingering damage to the root system.
Gerald Klingaman writes, “The long-term aftermath of the drought on old trees will be felt over the next three to five years.” We also look for symptoms of tree disease in Arkansas. A one-sided canopy catches the wind unevenly. It creates a dangerous twisting motion during a winter storm.
The lean
Finally, we study the posture of the tree. A slow lean rarely causes immediate concern. A tree stretches toward the sunlight over decades.
The trunk leans slightly away from a neighboring building. The roots adapt to the angle over time. The tree stands firm.
A sudden change in posture indicates a severe emergency. Heavy fall rain softens the ground, and wind pushes against the canopy.
The roots then snap under the soil. The trunk tilts unexpectedly. The Arbor Day Foundation states, “Many trees don’t grow completely straight, but a tree that leans suddenly indicates a problem.”
A new lean means the tree has lost its footing. We explain this danger in our guide on whether a leaning tree is dangerous in Hot Springs. Ice will easily push a leaning tree to the ground.
You must stay far away from a failing tree. Safety always comes first during a winter storm. According to Jaret Rushing, “Landowners should only enter storm-damaged areas when conditions are safe and should never stand under a tree that has visible damage.” We examine the sudden lean from multiple angles. We check for fresh cracks in the soil directly behind the trunk.
What each finding leads to
The fall signs guide our decisions. We discuss the findings with you. We agree on a solid plan.
Sometimes a tree needs immediate help. Sometimes a tree requires no work at all. We present the available options clearly.
If we spot dead limbs high in the crown, we use our bucket truck to reach them. We provide tree trimming and pruning to remove the danger. We cut the dead wood away.
This service eliminates the widow makers before ice coats the canopy. The healthy branches remain untouched. If we find a narrow fork worth keeping, we add mechanical support.
We install high-strength steel hardware. Our tree bracing and cabling service binds the two heavy limbs together. The cable restricts severe movement. It prevents the union from splitting wide open during a winter freeze. The tree gains extra strength for the ice season.
If we discover extensive root decay or deep vertical trunk cracks, the tree cannot stay. We schedule a safe tree removal. A dead pine or a rotting oak poses a severe threat to your home.
We use a skid steer and a chipper to handle the heavy wood. We take the tree down piece by piece. We protect your driveway from heavy logs. We clear the hazard completely.
Sometimes an early ice storm strikes before we complete the work. The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension advises on broken trees: “If more than 50% of the crown is damaged, monitor over 2 year period. If damage much greater than 50%, consider removing the tree.”
If your tree only has a few dead twigs, we leave it alone entirely. We schedule a return visit for March. We check it again when the spring buds open.
Free estimates in Hot Springs and Garland County
Paul Clower owns Clower Tree Service. He has worked trees in Garland County for ten years. We run a five-person crew. We own our equipment.
We bring a bucket truck, a chipper, a skid steer, and a mini skid steer. We also bring a large equipment trailer. We are bonded and insured. When a job requires an outside specialist, we bring one in.
We serve Hot Springs, Hot Springs Village, Garland County, and Malvern. We visit your property before a cut. We agree on the drop zone and the access route with you. We quote every job after a thorough inspection.
Call us at 501.538.1606. You can email us at info@clowertrees.com. Ask for a free estimate. Before we arrive, please move your vehicles from the driveway to give our equipment plenty of room.