Whether it’s storm season or not, if you have trees on your property you will need to make decisions as to maintaining them throughout the years. In some cases trees may need to be pruned, while others may need to be removed completely. There are several things to keep an eye on in order to make a sound decision as to tree removal.
Some obviously appropriate times to have trees removed
- The tree is no longer alive, or it is in very poor condition. If you look at the tree and you can’t see anything green or living on the tree, or if the branches are all dry and brittle, there’s a good chance it is dead or dying.
- Storm damage has made the tree irreparable. In some cases storm damage can be dealt with by pruning the damaged area or limbs. However, when the main trunk of the tree is too damaged to repair it is time to remove it.
- When a tree is leaning precariously over a building or other place people may be. People don’t often think about leaning trees until branches fall from it. The fact is that leaning trees are dangerous and should be removed for the safety of everyone.
- If the tree is entangled in power lines. This may cause a hazardous condition. Not only does the tree need removed, you need to find someone skilled in hazardous tree removal to do it.
- When the sap, leaves, or needles of the tree cause damage to property. There are different types of damage that can be done by trees, sap is a big offender. When sap falls onto cars it can ruin the paint on the car and cause mildew to grow. Unfortunately the same sap causes mildew on your roof. You might not think it is a big deal until you are watching it rain in your living room.
- When roots become too close to the foundation of a home or other building. Roots can break the foundation and pipes underground. They can also grow into the utilities and break connections to them.
You may not always be able to tell if a tree needs to be removed by looking at it. That’s why it is recommended that you have your trees inspected every few seasons to make sure they are still safe, especially if your tree hangs over other people’s yards or homes. If you need a tree inspected, be sure to hire an experienced arborist or tree service to do the job. If they seem uncertain about their findings, don’t hesitate to get a second opinion. Over 100 people die each year from falling trees and branches, you don’t want to add to that statistic.
So now that we have covered some of the more obvious reasons to remove trees, let’s look at some of the other reasons to remove trees.
Other reasons for tree removal
Despite being less obvious or even hidden, these are nonetheless dangerous situations and reasons to remove a tree:
- Infestation or disease. If you discover that your tree has been infested with insects or diseases that is going to eventually kill it and there is no recourse, you need to have that tree removed for the safety of the people and other trees around it.
- Decay or rotting. When you have a tree inspected, if it is discovered that there is decay or rot within the tree, you may need to consider if the tree needs to be taken down or not. You will need to communicate with the arborist and get their professional opinion before deciding.
- Cracks in the main trunk. If the main portion of the tree is compromised the tree is no longer safe and should be removed. The size is an issue. If the tree is far too big to be in the location it is in, you should consider removing it before someone gets hurt.
- Decay inside the tree. It may take a skilled arborist to be able to tell when a tree is decaying inside. If there are suspected issues after your tree assessment you should discuss options and the best solution with the arborist.
Though there are many other things that can cause trees to get damaged or sick, as the tree owner, it is your job to make decisions as to how the tree is cared for as long as it is on your property. You goal should be to keep only healthy and well maintained trees. When you have questions regarding your trees it is best to consult a professional arborist or tree service expert before making your decision.
Our tree maintenance guide has pruning, planting, and tree care information to help protect and keep your trees healthy.
