How To Spot And Remove Problematic Trees Early On
All too often, having a tree removed from your property becomes a big production. The tree removal company has to bring in specialized equipment to remove a huge tree from the top, down. Or, you find out that the tree is badly infested, and removing it causes bugs to scatter and move into other trees. Sometimes this is how things have to happen—but not always. There are certainly times when you can spot problematic trees earlier and have them removed before doing so becomes such a hassle. Here are some signs that a tree is problematic and should probably be removed sooner rather than later.
The tree is right next to your house or another building.
Trees should not be planted too close to your home, garage, or outbuilding. If they are too close, their branches will start rubbing on the building and causing damage. They may start casting shade on the roof once they get too large, which is not good for your roof. And if the building has a foundation, the roots may grow into it and contribute to cracking and damage. Instead of waiting for such a tree to cause damage and then removing it, have it removed while it is still small. You can replace it with a new tree placed further from your buildings.
The tree has bracket fungi growing out of its trunk.
If a tree has brackets or mushrooms growing out of its trunk, it is not going to survive. Even if the branches are still green right now, they won't be for long. By the time the brackets appear, the fungal infection is quite advanced and has moved into the tree's vascular tissue. If you leave the tree much longer, the branches will become brittle. They may start falling and causing damage as the tree removal techs start working. Have the tree removed now, and the job will be much easier.
There are D-shaped holes in the trunk.
This is something you'll see on ash trees. It means that the tree has been infested with the emerald ash borer. It's rare for a tree to recover from such an infestation, even with treatment. The borers eat away at the tree's internal structures very quickly. Have it removed now, and you'll help prevent the spread of these beetles to other ash trees.
When it is clear a tree will need to be removed eventually, you are usually better off doing it sooner rather than later. Contact a local tree removal service to learn more.