There’s nothing worse than the unexpected death of a tree in your yard. Oftentimes there’s nothing you can do to revive a deteriorating tree, but catching problem points early on might give you a fighting chance. Before you continue reading, make sure your tree is officially deceased or dying.
Here’s When to Cut Down a Tree in Your Yard
If you believe your tree needs removal, it’s time to schedule an expert quote and opinion. During this consultation, the arborist will let you know for sure if the tree needs to be removed. You’ll also receive a custom quote based on the specific job required.
5 Signs a Tree is Dead
A dead tree is very different from a declining tree that still has the potential for revitalization, but telling the difference isn’t always straightforward. Here’s our list of the top 5 symptoms to look out for when deciding whether or not your tree is dead.
- Trunk Damage: Look out for vertical cracks on the tree as well as bark that easily falls off on its own.
- Bare Branches: A telltale sign of a dead tree is bare branches during a time when it should be covered in leaves.
- Mushrooms Growing Near the Tree’s Roots: Mushrooms and fungi growing on or near a tree are telltale signs of internal rot.
- Damaged Roots: One severe sign of damaged roots is a tree with a considerable lean to its trunk.
- Deadwood: Deadwood is exactly that, wood that is dead. If your tree starts dropping branches and limbs, there’s a good chance it’s dead or dying.
Should Dead Trees be Cut Down?
Once you decide it’s time to take a tree down, it’s imperative to move fast. You need to call a certified tree maintenance company with the proper tools and know-how. Fully grown mature trees are giant objects and removing them from your property is no easy feat. For example, one single Oak Tree often weighs upwards of 4,500 pounds. If that Oak falls on its own, it can produce an immense amount of damage.
Furthermore, if your tree falls and causes damage to your home, you’ll most likely need to pay for the damages out of pocket. Unfortunately, most homeowners’ insurance plans don’t cover tree damage if it’s determined that the tree should have been removed prior to it falling. Ultimately, if your tree is officially dead, you need to do something about it before it causes damage to your property or injures someone.
Can I Utilize a Dead Tree as Decoration
Once again, if there’s a chance the tree could fall on your home or cause injury, you need to remove it before anything catastrophic happens. If the tree is safely out of the way, people often try painting or decorating them. This may work without issues, but we almost always advise our clients to remove any and all dead trees for safety reasons. If you must save part of the tree, we recommend collecting loose branches to use as decoration.
How Long Does it Take a Dead Tree to Fall?
There’s no way of knowing! If we could give you a concrete timeline, we would. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. It can take a couple of days or even years for a dead tree to finally fall. This is why we always recommend getting rid of trees as soon as you know they’re dead. Therefore, you won’t have to worry about the next time a large storm comes rolling in. Would you rather be safe or sorry?
Closing Thoughts
Here at Supreme Tree Experts, our number one concern is always safety. We don’t just mean the safety of your trees, but also the safety of your property, family, and peace of mind. We never recommend removing a tree on your own as roughly 100 people are killed by trees each year. If you suspect the death of a tree on your property, contact us for a free quote and assessment today!
