In many cases, trees are great to have on your property. They can help reduce your air conditioning and heating bill and prevent erosion, plus, they give off oxygen and add value to your property. Not to mention, trees add beauty to the landscape.
However, there are times when a tree does more harm than good and removal is necessary. Maybe your tree is in the way of a project. In some cases, homeowners find that a tree is overwhelming their space or getting in the way of a view. Trees can shed leaves, sticks, seeds, or sap, or they can just be an eyesore.
One case when a tree absolutely must come down is when it is a threat to the safety of your family, your property, or anyone who happens to be near the tree. After the nor’easter that recently swept through Delaware County, we know first-hand the type of damage a fallen tree can cause.
Fallen trees can’t always be avoided, but if you monitor the trees that are in your yard, you can significantly prevent them. Keep reading for our list of 7 ways to determine that your tree is about to fall.
7 Warning Signs That Your Tree May Fall
- Losing Leaves from the Outside in: When your tree sheds its leaves from the outside, that isn’t good. View this as an alert that there is an issue with the root system, which is the foundation of a healthy tree. Without a solid root system, your tree is at much higher risk of falling.
- Cracks or Missing Bark: If there is an area on the tree that is gashed, missing, or dented (called a canker) that tree is likely to break at that spot.
- Falling or Dead Branches: If your tree is shedding anything from many small sticks to entire branches, this could be a bad thing. When a tree is having trouble keeping itself healthy, it may shed some branches so there’s less to manage.
- A Leaning Trunk: If your tree starts to lean at an angle greater than 15 degrees, that isn’t a good sign. However, there is a difference between a tree that is naturally growing at an angle and a tree that shifted due to wind or root damage. A naturally-angled tree isn’t usually a problem.
- Forked Branches: If your tree’s branches grow in a V formation, exercise caution. Strong branches should have a U shape. When the wind blows, V-shaped branches snap off easily.
- Mushrooms Around the Base: This indicates that there is root rot on the tree.
We Offer Removal & Emergency Clean-Up
If you want to be proactive and remove a tree that seems to be a hazard, contact us. We will assess the situation and remove the tree if needed. We also offer 24/7 emergency services. After the recent nor’easter, we were out cleaning up fallen trees from dozens of properties in the area.