Site assessments to consider
Previous tree failure Terrain Wind pattern Soil characteristic Drainage patterns Land disturbances (flooding, grade changes, hydrology) Construction damage Restricted root growth Land use history Tree health
Wind loads
The force on a tree or structure resulting from the impact of wind
Use typical weather conditions for the region
Windthrow
Susceptible to windthrow when the soil is saturated, particularly if they are shallow rooted, soil not deep and high water table
Dominant trees
Typically open grown and free from competition.
Subdominant
Understory trees that have less developed crowns and weaker root systems
Suppressed trees
Biologically and mechanically weak. Restricted by competing trees.
Likelihood of failure is determined by
Site factors Response growth Tree health Tree species Load Defects and conditions
During site assessment consider
Drainage patterns Land use change Restricted root growth New exposure History of failures Saturated soil Common weather