Hazardous trees with structural flaws that could cause harm to people or property require quick removal. Remember that a dangerous tree should only be assessed and removed by a certified arborist services provider.

To decide on whether to remove a tree, you should ask yourself several questions that include:

Is the tree species desirable in the area?

There are many reasons why a tree might not be desirable in an area. Some trees are undesirable because they have weak wood that is prone to breakage, always drop large amounts of debris, have shallow roots that damage lawns and pavement, are frequently infested with diseases or insects specific to the tree species, or are an invasive species due to prolific reseeding in the landscape.

If you aren’t sure whether a particular tree will be good for your yard, consult an experienced professional for guidance.

Is the tree healthy?

You should remove a tree if 50% of the tree has been injured. A declining tree can survive many years, but its development and appearance will always be limited or abnormal. Herbicide-damaged trees sometimes have deformed leaves, but they can usually recover.

You should note that vertical fissures, seams, dead branch stubs, and massive, older wounds indicate interior degradation. Severe damage to the main trunk frequently necessitates removal of the tree. If the damaged area is less than 25% of the trunk’s circumference, the lesion may gradually heal without causing permanent injury and without necessitating the removal of the tree.

Again, if you aren’t sure whether the tree is beyond a point of return, you should consult a professional to help you.

Is the tree hollow?

Because a tree’s life-sustaining tissue, xylem, and phloem are located on the outside edges of the trunk, many trees will live for years with hollow trunks. The issue is that the tree’s trunk strength may be compromised, making it dangerous. If one-third of the tree’s interior is hollow or decaying, it should most likely be removed.

Does the tree have large dead branches?

Large trees with broken crowns or damaged limbs endanger persons and property. The tree will likely survive if less than 25% of the branches are injured.

While this is the case, you should note that you should remove crossed or rubbing trees. Narrow branch angles, particularly on the main trunk, are prone to splitting, and you should adjust them.

For the best outcome, do this while the tree is young. If a narrow crotch is too large to remove, cable the two co-dominant leaders to reduce tension and prevent breaking. Unless you are experienced and know what you are doing, ensure that the work is carried out by an experienced arborist who knows what they are doing.

Is the tree under power lines?

Trees planted under electricity lines should reach less than 25 feet. A tree that is growing into electricity cables needs to be trimmed out. During wet weather, electricity can arc up to ten feet onto wet tree leaves and ground out, resulting in a power outage or property damage.

To be safe, you should never remove tree limbs near electrical wires on your own. This is because the consequences of an unexpected contact with power lines or a grounding arc of fatal electrical energy to a ladder, pruning instrument, or a person will be catastrophic. Always hire a professional for these hazardous jobs.

What is the history of the tree?

Some earlier trimming jobs may pose difficulties years later. The breakage of regrowth is an example of the archaic, outmoded technique of “topping” trees. Another factor contributing to the progressive decline of trees is a change in soil level over the root system.

It will most likely die if three inches or more of soil is placed over the tree’s root system. Thankfully, many trees can be rescued if identified early, before stress signs emerge.

If your tree has issues but isn’t too old, you can get away with it without having to remove it.

What is the nature of the environment that the tree lives in?

Trees that grow on rock ledges or near bodies of water typically have shallow root systems. This means that they might not be strong enough.

The destruction of neighboring trees is a regular issue following the construction of a new building. Unfortunately, trees saved from destruction during construction sometimes die 3-5 years later. This is because they are susceptible to soil compaction, grade changes, and abrupt exposure to full sun after growing in a forest.

You should analyze the environment in which the tree is growing, and if it doesn’t show any chance of getting better, simply remove the tree.

Best practices when removing hazardous trees?

You should continually assess the size of the tree to be felled, its location, the prevailing wind direction, and the other trees around. Look for overhead wires, buildings, vehicles, and other potential safety risks inside the tree fall circle. The tree to be cut should be away from anything it could accidentally fall on.

Only attempt to fall a tree you are confident you can safely cut based on your experience. If you are just starting, trim trees in flat, level terrain. This is because hilly or sloping terrain makes assessing a tree’s lean more difficult.

It is a good idea to chop a tree to fall in the direction of the side with the most branches, as long as that direction does not go against the wind or the tree’s natural lean.

Tall stumps are wasteful and unsafe, in addition to making your yard ugly. The most valuable log in a tree is often the one closest to the stump. It is the largest and, if not rotted, has more volume than the other logs from a tree of comparable length.

Cutting the tree low on the stump, just above the root or stump swell, is ideal. You should always aim to cut the tree low. If you can’t do this due to a rotten stump or any other reason, let tree removal services Chevy Chase experts help you.