It’s not always easy to tell whether a tree is just having a bad year or if it really is on its way out. The decline can be gradual enough not to produce a dramatic change that would catch your attention. Many people simply ignore the problem or keep putting off maintenance right up until the moment an urgent situation arises and catches them off guard. In any case, these warning signs are all fairly obvious and serious indicators that a tree is likely beyond the point of recovery and will need to be removed.
1. Major Split Near the Base
Major splits near the base of the trunk are almost always a death sentence for trees of any size. This type of unbalanced structure can happen from unmanaged growth over a long period of time, but it’s usually the result of physical damage. Lightning strikes and the weight of snow and ice on the branches are common culprits. A split shaped like a “V” or “Y” makes the tree fundamentally unstable, creating an unacceptable safety issue for most property owners and shortening the tree’s life expectancy.
2. Failure to Produce Foliage
Many trees have off seasons. They might suffer from an occasional infestation or environmental effects that impact their growth in a particular year. However, a repeated pattern of declining or inconsistent growth is a sure sign that something is wrong. You can often gauge overall tree health by its production of foliage during the spring and through the rest of the year.
3. Dying Branches
Every tree loses branches now and then for many possible reasons, but it shouldn’t be a regular occurrence. If you start finding branches on the ground around the tree on a routine basis, then you need to find out why. You may need to deal with an ongoing health problem to curb the losses or take the whole tree down if it’s already past the point of help.
4. Cavities and Crevices
Many kinds of insects and some diseases can stunt tree growth or hollow out spaces within the trunk. This causes all sorts of problems that interfere with the stability and safety of the tree. It inhibits circulation, which hinders overall growth.
5. Loss of Stability
Trees that start leaning or pulling roots and soil up on one side are usually a cause for concern. There are many factors to consider when assessing local soil stability on top of managing the tree’s overall growth and weight distribution.
Be Ready for Safe Tree Removal
Hiring an experienced professional who has proper training and specialized equipment is the right way to handle tree removal. Residents of Salem, OR can rely on Altar Tree Service for risk assessment consultation and removal of trees, so contact us today to start moving toward a solution.
