Tree Removal: Is Your Oak Tree Rotting From The Inside Out?
If your oak tree doesn't look healthy, you may prune the tree to save it. But if pruning doesn't save your tree, your tree could be rotting from the inside out. Internal tree rot can be dangerous for trees and their owners, especially if large limbs fall to the ground. Learn more about internal tree rot and what you should do about your oak tree below.
Why Do Trees Rot From the Inside Out?
Oak trees provide shade, beauty, and elegance to any landscape. However, oak trees can be vulnerable to disease, including internal rot. Internal rot generally occurs from fungal infections. Infectious pathogens can infiltrate your tree's trunk and slowly decay it.
Fungi, such as heart rot and sap rot, develop inside the tree. The fungi consume the woody fibers and nutrients inside the trunk until the tree becomes hollow. You may see some of the decay in your tree's branches and limbs. However, the majority of decay lurks inside the trunk.
Because of an oak tree's large size, a hollow trunk can be dangerous. The trunk may not have the strength to support the tree's canopy and vast limbs. If the decay spreads throughout the tree, the tree or its limbs could fall. You want to avoid these dangers by having a professional examine your tree.
What Do You Do About a Severely Rotted Tree?
A tree professional will look at your oak tree to see if it contains significant decay. If the trunk doesn't have significant decay, a service provider may be able to treat it. If the trunk is too hollow to support your oak tree's weight, consider removing it.
A tree service provider will most likely need to remove the tree in pieces. A contractor may cut and remove the canopy first, then proceed to the trunk. If the trunk is very wide, a provider may need to remove it in stages.
After a contractor removes the entire tree, they may or may not remove the stump and roots. Oak trees can possess extensive root systems that travel underground. If the stump and roots aren't dangerous, a contractor may suggest you leave them in place. If the stump and roots will cause problems for you later, such as accidents or sewer damage, a contractor may remove both pieces.
If your oak tree looks unhealthy or rotted, contact a tree removal company for services today, or check out a website like http://www.prtree.com.