Signs You Need Tree Removal Services
Trees are beautiful creations of nature; a healthy and vibrant tree adds a timeless look to any yard. However, a dying or dead tree can cause a lot of potential problems and safety concerns. As a property owner, it is your responsibility to be aware of the dangers that can occur due to a fallen, sick, or dead tree. It is essential to evaluate any trees’ health on your property that may be a concern to decide if removal is necessary.
Outlined below are some signs you should be aware of and look for when considering tree removal services. By becoming aware of these signs, you’ll be able to keep yourself and others safe.
Sign #1: Sick Tree
A lot of different problems can cause a sick tree. When you evaluate a tree to determine if it is sick or not, you must thoroughly look at everything, including:
- Bark
- Trunk
- Branches
- New growth
- No growth
Looking at the whole tree will give you a better sense of the problem you have and where the problem is coming from. In some cases, you might be able to treat an issue before you need to remove the tree. However, depending on the severity and the root cause, it may be too late meaning that removal is your only option.
Sign #2: Strange Growth
Most property owners like to have a well-manicured yard and landscape. Oddly growing trees might not be something that looks pleasing to the eye. If pruning and cutting don’t work, it’s best to remove the tree altogether instead of keeping up with all of that maintenance.
By removing the tree, you could be saving yourself money in the future. It will also help to increase the overall appeal of your yard.
Sign #3: Bark Health
Like our skin, the bark on a tree can tell you a lot about its health and any problems occurring on the inside. Things to look out for when examining tree bark include:
- Decaying bark
- Cracks
- Missing bark
An easy way to examine tree bark is to do a scratch test. This test will allow you to see the tree bark’s underside, where the bark meets the tree flesh. Break off a piece of bark near the bottom of the trunk. If the bark’s underside is brown and dry, the tree shows signs of decay; if it is green and moist, the tree is healthy.
Sign #4: Hollow Branches or Trunk
A hollow tree branch or trunk can be challenging to spot, considering this effect the tree from the inside out. By the time the hole can be seen from the outside, it may be too late to save your tree. If you spot any small holes in your tree trunk or branches, seek professional help to examine how severe the damage is.
Be careful not to poke and prod any holes that you find. Doing this could cause unnecessary damage or make the problem even worse. Messing around with a hollow tree branch or trunk could cause it to fall and or break apart which can hurt you or others nearby.
Sign #5: Overhanging Branches
Pruning and cutting a tree is great for routine maintenance, but it can only do so much. If there are many limbs of a tree hanging over your home or driveway, it would be best to remove the whole thing. A reason for removing the entire tree, in this case, would be to maintain esthetics. A tree with only a few odd limbs reaching out might look unpleasing than removing it altogether.
Sign #6: Decaying Roots
A healthy root system is essential to produce a healthy tree. When you have a root system that is decaying, getting to the root of the problem may be too late by the time you spot the signs. If you notice fungi growing around the base of your tree, this could mean root rot.
Depending on how early you treat the decaying root problem, it may not be worth the effort and time to save the tree. Decaying roots can travel fast throughout the tree and will lead to overall decay.
If you have trees in a small area close by, root decay could affect all of the trees nearby as well. In this case, it’s best to remove the problematic tree before it reaches and affects the other ones.
Sign #7: Infestation
Insects, animals, and even fungi can put a tree’s health in jeopardy when observing your tree lookout for different infestations of pests. Here are some native Florida pests to keep an eye on:
- Bark Beetles
- Red Spider Mites
- Aphids
- Bagworms
You may be wondering how you spot these infestations if you can’t find the culprit? Look out for issues such as:
- Discolored or enlarged buds
- Holes or notches on your leaves
- Chewed or damaged fruit
- Borer tunnels into the wood
Sign #8: Branches Without Buds
If your tree has health problems that are occurring on the inside after time, you will begin to notice it on the outside. For example, a healthy tree will have beautiful buds that grow and die off according to the season.
However, if you have a tree that is beginning to bud and only a few branches have new healthy growth, you can conclude that the branches that do not have buds are dying or already dead, which means they cannot produce new growth. If many branches are suffering from this, it is best to remove the tree altogether instead of pruning it.
Sign #9: Unstable Tree
Here in Florida, the worst kind of tree to have by your home or powerline is one that has a shallow root system. These trees’ roots do not go far into the ground, meaning that they do not allow the tree to stay stable in high winds. Depending on the severity of a hurricane, wind speeds can range from 74mph to 157mph. Trees with shallow roots can quickly become uprooted and fall onto unsuspected houses nearby.
Before the hurricane season begins, it’s best to evaluate all of the trees on your property, especially those near your home. If you notice trees that shake vigorously during storms or gusts of winds, you should seek professional evaluation and tree removal services.
Sign #10: Fallen Tree
This sign might be obvious, but if you are dealing with a fallen tree on your property that is not affecting anything, you may not think it is a problem, but you’re wrong. Regardless of where its final resting place is on your property, a fallen tree can bring a whole bunch of issues with it.
After the tree has fallen, it will begin to decay, creating a feast for insects and even becoming a potential shelter for animals. If the tree is close to your home or an area that gets a lot of foot traffic, it’s best to get rid of the problem before it gets worse or brings insects and animals near your home and family.
Tree Removal Service: Conclusion
By understanding these critical signs to tree health, you’ll be ready to call in professional tree removal services if need be. Even if you are unsure, it’s always best to seek professional advice before removing a tree. At SB Tree Service, we specialize in tree removal services and can help you get rid of any dead or dying trees to keep you and your family safe. Contact us today to learn more about our removal services and the many other services that we offer.