After a windy night, it's common to find a big limb that cracked but never made it to the ground. It's hung up in the branches below, sometimes swinging a little, sometimes perfectly still. Tree crews call these hangers, and they cause more serious injuries than almost anything else in tree work.
The problem is that there's no way to tell from the ground what's holding a hanger in place. A gust of wind, a tug on a rope, or a ladder leaned against the trunk can shift its weight, and a limb that looks small from below can weigh several hundred pounds by the time it reaches you.
If you spot one, keep kids, pets, and cars out from under it, and don't try to pull it down or climb up to it. Our crew secures the limb with ropes and rigging before cutting, then lowers it to the ground under control. It's usually a quick job for us, and one that isn't worth the risk to handle yourself.
Have you ever had a broken branch get stuck up in one of your trees after a storm?
#TreeSafety #MetroEastIL
A real photo of a broken limb hung up in a tree canopy, or the Riverbend crew rigging and lowering a hanging limb with ropes. Authentic job photos strongly preferred over stock.
Canva text suggestion: "Broken limb stuck in the tree? Stay clear" or "Hanging limbs are not a DIY job"