Wondering If You Should Remove A Tree? 5 Ways To Know For Sure
Damaged or unhealthy trees—whether the problem is storm damage or the natural ravages of time—can ruin the look and feel of a great yard. But, at the same time, you don't want to lose a fully grown tree and the accompanying investment if you don't have to.
How can you tell when it's time to remove a tree? Here are 5 questions to help you know.
Is the Tree Prone to Problems? Some trees simply aren't as strong and safe as others. Large trees that have weak wood or inadequate root systems—such as box elders, silver maple, or Australian pine—can pose future dangers. In addition, if a tree species is suffering common infestation (such as from the bark beetle) in your area, you may not want to invest in saving the tree only to lose it later.
Is the Tree Hollow? A tree can live on for years even with significant internal damage because much of its life support system is in the outer layers. But large hollow cavities inside the trunk mean the tree is a danger for falling, cracking, and infecting other trees. If you see more than about one third of a trunk is hollow, you may want to remove the whole tree.
Is the Tree a Danger? One of the clearest indicators that a tree needs to go is when it appears at risk for falling or breaking. Leaning trees, large broken limbs, and cracked branches should probably be removed as soon as possible. This is particularly true if these hang over the house roof, near utility lines, and over entry or exit points in the home.
Are There Sprouts? Sprouting around the base of the tree or new shoots from the trunk might seem like a good sign. However, these are actually often an indication of damage. They are stress indicators, often happening after construction work around the tree. They may or may not need removed, but they should be evaluated.
How are the Roots? Examine the roots for signs of damage or disease. If more than 50% of the roots are not healthy, the chances are that the tree is already too damaged to thrive. Excavation or construction near roots can cause real damage, and signs of fungus or root rot are likely very serious issues.
Having dead or dying trees removed can be traumatic to your landscape, but it's a healthy move for your entire yard. And by looking for signs of deeper problems, you can know you've made the right decision every time. Contact a company, like Blue Ox Tree Care of Indiana, for more help.