Things to Know About Tree Safety

Four trees have fallen in Swampscott since Sept. 1. One of them injured a driver; and all but one of the trees struck vehicles or a home.

The latest report of a tree falling was Friday, Sept. 7, about 10:30 p.m., when a tree or large limb came down on several vehicles, damaging two of them on King Street, according to logs..

With that in mind here are a few things to look for when assessing trees for hazardous defects, according to the US Department of Agriculture.

• Dead Wood 
• Cracks 
• Weak Branch Unions 
• Decay 
• Cankers 
• Root Problems 
• Poor Tree Architecture

The Department of Agriculture article recommends actions depending on the particulars — including the extent of the problem, the type of tree and its location.

University of Massachusetts professor Brian Kane recommends that homeowners contact an aroborist if they have questions about a tree's risk for failure.

Good clearinghouses for online information about trees include the Massachusetts DCR, Massachusetts Arborists Association and the US Forest Service

The UMass professor says there is a risk of failure with every tree. Strong winds, and heavy snow and ice elevate the risk of a tree toppling.

And it is also important to know that tree health and structural stability are not the same thing, he said. A healthy tree may be structurally deficient.