Do you have trees in your yard that have seen better days? Worried they might be dead trees, posing a risk to your home or your neighbor’s if they fall?
You can’t always tell a dead tree by looking at it, and sometimes, a tree may look dead but isn’t. If you’re trying to figure out if you have dead trees in your yard before calling in the professionals to take them down, here are some tips to help.
Identifying a Dying or Dead Tree in Your Yard
If you catch it soon enough, a sick or dying tree may be able to be saved. But a dead tree poses a real risk to you and your home, especially large trees that could cause extensive damage.
Some telltale signs of a dead tree include:
- Peeling bark
- Trunk cracks or splits
- Mushrooms growing near the base
- Several branches without living buds
If you have a tree in your yard with these signs, it’s past saving, and you should remove it. However, there’s a simple test you can use if you still aren’t sure about the health of your trees.
Using your fingernail or a small knife, scratch a few of the tree’s branches. If the inside is green and moist, the tree is still alive. However, if the inside is brittle and brown, check it closely for some of the telltale signs listed above.
As you inspect the tree more closely, look up into the canopy for missing leaves and hanging branches. Visual changes in the bark, including cracking, splitting, and easy breakage if you try to pick off the bark, are likely signs the tree is past the point of no return.
Saving a Dying Tree
If you performed the scratch test and the tree is still alive, you may be able to save it from dying. Because there are different ways to nurse various tree species back to health, it’s best to speak with an arborist. They can assess the tree’s health and come up with a treatment plan that’s best for the trees in your yard.
Why Remove a Dead Tree?
A dead tree can pose a real threat to your property. But removal is also crucial for a few reasons:
- Dead trees can be a fire hazard
- Dead trees will attract unwanted pests
- Dead trees can carry diseases that can harm living trees in your yard
- Dead trees can affect your curb appeal and property value
If the tree is small, you may be able to get rid of it yourself. But for most trees, it’s best to call in the professionals, especially if the dead trees are hanging over your home, your neighbor’s, or another piece of property.
Maintaining Healthy Trees in Your Yard
While it can be disheartening to remove dead trees from your yard, it’s best for the health of the rest of your trees and to protect your property. While an arborist or professional tree trimmer can help with removing dead trees in your yard, the 410-LAWNGUY in Gambrills, Maryland, is here for the rest of your lawn maintenance needs.
No job is too big or too small for the 410-LAWNGUY. We handle residential and commercial lawn maintenance in Maryland. Give us a call today at 410-LAWNGUY (410-529-6489) to get a free estimate!
