Trees bring so much beauty and benefit to any home and landscape. However, as impossible as it feels to part with them, certain situations require tree removal.
Dead, dying, and hazardous trees can cause personal injury and damage to property.
How do you know when it is time to remove your tree? Watch out for the following signs.
Chipped or Peeling Bark
If your tree’s bark is peeling off, this can be either caused by natural shedding or by environmental damage or disease.
Bare wood and mats of fungus accompanying chipped barks are often signs that a tree is dying and needs to be removed. This can often lead to falling branches that can hurt your property or other people.
Root Defects
Root defects aren’t always easily visible, but it’s a pretty big issue. Trees with root defects won’t be able to absorb the nutrients and minerals that they need to thrive and survive.
If your tree has root defects, chances are they will not be growing well. They may even die over time.
You can often see signs of root defects if the tree shows symptoms like lack of vigour, reduced growth, sparse leaves, leaf wilting and browning, and branch dieback.
Heaving soil and fungi growth around the roots are also telltale signs of root defects.
Some trees may be able to recover from root defects if you catch them early, but other times tree removal is the only answer.
Hollow Trunk
If the tree has structural damage, your tree may not be able to grow well. A hollow trunk also causes several issues like spreading infection or disease, or falling tree limbs.
These situations may be prevented by an arborist, but severe cases of internal decay require tree removal.
Risk of Damage to a Building
If your tree poses a risk to your property, it’s a pretty big sign that you need to remove it. Aggressive root systems or large branches may cause structural damages to your house that will likely be very expensive to repair.
For example, the roots may cause damage to your driveway or patio. The branches can also pose risks to your roof and windows.
Driveway repair alone can cost you $1000 to $3000, so removing the tree before further damage is done is often the more affordable option.
If you’re anticipating the risk of damage to your property, make sure to get a tree risk assessment done as soon as possible so you can clearly see your options.
More Resources
Prevention is better than cure even in the case of tree removal. If you don’t want to part with your tree, make sure to take proactive measures to keep the tree healthy and remove potential risks to your health and property.
In the meantime, check out our reviews on environmental services to help you become more sustainable.
