How Do You Know It's Time to Remove a Tree

Do you have a really beautiful old tree in your yard? Is it looking sick? Learn more about nursing a sick tree back to health.

About Me
Getting my tree back to life

I have a really beautiful old olive tree in my backyard. I love sitting under it on warm summer night. Unfortunately, the tree got a bit of a knock from the truck that brought in our swimming pool this summer, and it has been looking quite sick ever since and hasn't had any olives yet this year. I am very attached to the tree, so I have got a guy from the tree service company making weekly visits to give it extra fertilising and trimming to try to promote growth. This blog is all about nursing a sick old tree back to health with help from a tree service company.

How Do You Know It's Time to Remove a Tree

14 January 2022
 Categories:
, Blog


The trees you have in your yard play an essential role. They act as the protection shields along the property's edge, offer shade and enhance the aesthetics. Therefore, removing a tree from your life and landscape could be a challenging experience. 

However, if a tree is posing risks to your loved ones and the objects under or around it, consider consulting a professional arborist. The tree professional will assess its condition and determine if there is a way to fix the problem or if you need tree removal service.

Here are some telltale signs that your tree will need to be removed to keep your yard hazard-free.

The Tree Is Hollow

A tree with a hollow trunk can live for years due to its phloem and xylem that act as its life support. But, if the trunk is also hollow, the tree's structural stability will be compromised. Keeping such a tree in your yard is risky. 

So, if you notice that a tree is hollow, call your arborist to confirm if it needs to go. You may also need tree removal if there are splits, cracks and large wounds on the trunk. This usually means there is an internal decay, and the tree can fall at any time.

The Tree Is Diseased 

Like other living things, trees can get diseased, and some diseases can be more severe than others. When an infection starts to spread, it kills the tree slowly, and other trees could also be affected. 

So, if you didn't catch the disease on time and the treatment efforts you made have proven futile, you may need to eliminate the tree. This is recommended when the disease overtakes a large part of the tree or doesn't respond to treatment.

The Tree Has Large Dead Branches

A big tree with large damaged limbs or broken tops is a danger to people and properties. If only a few branches are damaged, the tree can easily survive after getting proper care from an arborist. 

The expert will remove the rubbing or crossed branches and correct branch angles that are likely to split. This works perfectly if the tree is still young and prevents breakage. However, if the tree is large and a significant number of the large branches are dead, you may need a tree removal service. 

You'll also need to eliminate a tree if all the dead branches are on one side. Having dead branches on one part is a symptom of trunk or root damage, so don't hesitate to remove the tree once the arborist confirms it's a safety hazard.