Trees are absolute treasures that can provide shade and atmosphere to most any lawn, but older, unhealthy or damaged trees pose a serious risk to any structures they happen to be near – as well as the things and people inside. Here are a few questions that can help you determine if the time has come to remove a tree from your property:
1 – Is the tree old and fragile, causing it to shed branches every time a storm passes through?
2 – Does it appear to be hollow and/or unstable at any point between the trunk and the canopy?
3 – Has a recent storm broken it off or split it into two or more sections?
4 – Are fewer leaves coming back from one spring to the next?
5 – Is the once-healthy bark beginning to peel off resulting in large sections of bare wood?
If you answered yes to any of these questions the tree is dangerous and should be taken down a soon as possible, especially if it is close enough to a structure to cause damage or injury if part or all of it were to fall.
One thing to keep in mind is the fact that cutting down a tree is a dangerous task in itself. If done incorrectly, serious property damage or bodily injury is a real possibility. I recommend contacting a tree removal service to do the job for you unless you have the tools and experience required in order to safely do it yourself. Another advantage of calling in a pro is that often a damaged tree can be saved with a bit of judicious pruning, and any tree service worth its salt will help you determine if your tree can be salvaged instead of completely removed.
About the author: Gary Long is a retired lawn care and tree removal technician who now spends his days writing and enjoying his days nights at home with his loving wife Jill.