Protecting Your Property from Fallen Trees and Leaves
Go Back To Previous PageLast year, major weather events from nor’easters to tropical storms brought heavy snow, strong winds, and downpours of rain. These caused considerable damage to trees in New York and the surrounding areas. NYC is home to over 5 million trees on public and private property. While enhancing gardens and streetscapes, they can also cause considerable damage to properties. This is if they are not properly maintained. Even in good weather, Fallen Trees, branches, and leaves left to gather in gutters can damage any roof. Pruning trees in your yard, promptly reporting damaged street trees, and regularly removing dead leaves can help protect your property from damage. You can avoid potentially hazardous situations, particularly during bad weat
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Safely Cleaning Gutters from Fallen Trees
While fall foliage is a spectacular sight in New York, once the leaves have dropped, they can present problems on the ground and in your gutters. Dead and decaying leaves can create blockages in pipes, stopping water from draining correctly and instead pushing it in under shingles. They damage the roof and cause dampness to internal walls.
The cold winters in New York will also quickly freeze wet leaves left in a gutter. Therefore, as the ice water expands, this can cause gutters to crack and warp.
Cleaning leaves from drains and pipes remains hazardous. Professional gutter cleaners will safely remove leaves, sticks, and other debris. Cleaning the gutters at least twice a year in autumn and spring will prevent them from clogging up. This way, they won’t cause structural damage to your property.
Removing Yard Waste
Leave can also cause problems if left to rot on the ground. You can remove them appropriately and dispose of them before the winter. Pile piles of leaves in your yard or closer to your property’s exterior walls can encourage mold growth and attract pests such as mice and rats.
While clearing fall leaves outside your property is voluntary, you must sweep them away if they obstruct pedestrians. After you’ve cleared up, you can collect leaves by calling the Department of Sanitation together with the regular trash. They will do it as long as they are labeled as yard waste and placed in suitable bags and containers.
Maintaining Trees
In a built-up city, the trees in your yard and lining your street not only look beautiful, but they can help to manage stormwater, remove pollution and
attract birds. However, they can also cause considerable damage if they are poorly maintained. Regularly pruning your trees’ dead, diseased, and torn branches will prevent them from falling unexpectedly.
You can also ask the Parks Department to deal with any problems with trees in your neighborhood. They will accept requests to prune dead limbs or cut back trees brushing against your property’s exterior walls.
While trees enhance the streets, parks, and yards of New York, damaged branches and Fallen trees and leaves can also present a hazard. You can minimize potential problems by regularly pruning trees, clearing drainage systems, and sweeping debris.
Georges has been working in Wall Street for the last 16 years trading derivatives with hedge funds. He has been an active real estate investor for over a decade. Georges graduated from HEC Business School in Paris and holds a master in Finance from ESADE Barcelona.
