10 Signs It's Time to Remove a Tree

Trees offer many benefits – shade, a habitat for wildlife, beauty, and so much more. A tree can have sentimental value, like the tree you planted with your child thirty years ago or the tree under which you proposed to your spouse. Removing a tree can completely change the look of your landscape, change the needs of a carefully planned garden, or eliminate shade that helps keep your home cooling costs down in the summer.

So, it's no surprise that it can be difficult to decide to  have a tree removed. Sometimes, all a tree needs is a good pruning. However, if a tree outgrows its space, becomes ill, or causes a safety issue, it may be best to have it removed.

10 Signs It's Time to Have a Tree Removed

1. The tree is under power lines.
   Trees growing into power lines can cause power failures and property damage. "Tree experts and utility companies suggest that people plant trees with a mature height of 25 feet or less near power lines, with taller trees kept farther away," the Utah State University Cooperative Extension explains. "Though taller trees are sometimes acceptable near power lines, they usually need drastic pruning to keep lines clear, which can be expensive and unsightly."
   
   
2. The tree is too close to a house or other structures.
   Sometimes, branches hanging over roofs or other structures can be pruned. However, if a tree is planted too close to your house or other structure and branches are hanging over the roof, constant pruning can become expensive and unsightly, so it may be better to have the tree removed.
   
   
3. The tree is dead.
   A dead tree located in the woods at the back of your property that does not pose a threat to you or your property can be left there to serve as a "habitat for living organisms, such as fungi, mosses, lichens, invertebrates, birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians," according to the U.S. Forest Service. However, dead trees near homes, structures, walkways, etc., can become hazards. With a weakened root system and brittle branches, one big gust of wind or soaking rain could have a dead tree or a large branch crashing on your house, a vehicle, or someone walking by.
   
   
4. The tree species is undesirable. 
   Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but some trees are generally considered "undesirable." For example, some trees are invasive, such as the Bradford pear (which also has smelly flowers and weak wood) and the tree of heaven (which is also particularly attractive to spotted lanternflies). Also, trees are often planted in less-than-ideal locations. For example, the fruit of the Gingko tree stinks, and Weeping Willow roots can invade plumbing, so having one of these trees outside your front door may not be ideal.
   
   
5. The Tree is Unhealthy
   Unhealthy trees can be unsightly and cause hazards, so watch closely for signs that your tree is unhealthy – dead branches, limited or abnormal growth, wilting, yellowing, or dying leaves, spots or blemishes on leaves, fruit, or bark, etc. 
   
   
6. The tree has sprouts at its base.
   If you see a lot of small branches called Epicormic branches coming from the base of your tree, it could be a sign that something is wrong with your tree. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, these branches are considered defects and a sign of stress in a tree.
   
   
7. The tree is leaning.
   Trees growing vertically are less hazardous than those significantly leaning to one side. And if the tree suddenly begins to lean, it may be a sign that your tree is unhealthy.
   
   
8. The tree is too big for the available space.
   Some trees reach a mature height of 12 to 30', and others can grow 50 to 200'. Roots can grow as deep as 20' and as wide as two to four times the diameter of the tree's crown (branches and leaves). Without a suitable space, a tree's health can decline or cause hazards, such as invading plumbing, growing over houses, etc.
   
   
9. The tree is in the wrong environment.
   If a tree isn't thriving, it could be planted in the wrong environment – too much or too little light, too much or too little moisture, the wrong soil structure, etc. If you can't improve the environment, it may be best to have the tree removed.
   
   
10. The tree interferes with sightlines for vehicle traffic.
    If you have a tree that blocks your line of sight when exiting your driveway, you may want to remove it rather than constantly worrying about pruning it.

Hire a Professional Tree Service

If you determine it's time to have a tree removed on your property, don't try to do it yourself, especially if the tree is unhealthy. Arbor Max Tree Service specializes in safely removing even the largest trees, and we use low-impact techniques that minimize the risk to your property.

Give us a call today at 484-878-8947 or click for a free tree removal quote.