Signs That Point to Removal
- Most of the crown is dead or leafless in summer
- A trunk crack that runs deep or along the length
- A hollow trunk or large cavities, especially with soft, crumbly wood
- Mushrooms or conks at the base or on the trunk
- Leaning that is new, with heaved soil. See leaning tree removal
- Many dead branches over a house, driveway or play area
- Root damage from digging, grade changes or construction
Signs That May Be Fixable
A few dead branches, cosmetic bark damage or thin leaves in a dry spell do not always mean removal. Pruning, watering or treatment may help. An arborist can tell.
What to Do
Note what you see, take photos and get a pro to look. Keep people off the area under a tree you worry about. If a limb has already come down, check the rest. See dead tree removal and tree removal.