Decaying trees are dangerous. The decay could be easily noticeable or hidden inside the tree. Even if you can see the decay, it is difficult to assess how extensive the decay damage is. Learn how to detect decay in trees by reading this article.

Why does a tree decay?

The decaying process begins with a wound in the bark that could be caused by a storm, a falling branch, or other damage to the tree. This exposes the tree to bacteria, fungi, insects, mosses, rain, snow, heat, and a variety of other natural factors which affect the tree’s survival. Many microorganisms and natural elements are involved in the decaying process.

Factors that Contribute to Tree Decay

Although all older trees have some decay, other factors determine the gravity of the problem.

1. The location of the decay is important. If the decay is located in a section of the tree that could easily crack, the tree is more likely to fall at any moment, which can be potentially dangerous.

2. The extent of the decay determines whether the damage is serious enough to merit tree removal.

3. The specific species of the tree is also important to note. Certain trees are more prone to getting diseases and fungi that cause decay. Tree species that are prone to decay and failure include:

-Red Maple

-Mahogany

-Pecan

-Southern Red Cedar

-Southern Red Oak

-Laurel Oak

-Chinaberry

How to Detect Decay in Trees

1. Tree decay detection can be obvious. Visually inspecting the tree can give you an idea if the tree is decaying internally. A tree with an unusually expanded base indicates lower trunk decay. Trees are generally under a lot of stress from natural elements and their own weight. If a tree is internally decaying, it cannot support itself as efficiently as a healthy tree. In order to handle natural stress, the tree trunk expands into a bulge, which makes it easy to detect decay in the tree.

2. If a tree has several dead branches, it is probably a sign that it is decaying. Cut dead branches to prevent decay from spreading.

3. Wood that is soft or crumbly is a sign of serious decay.

4. Fungal growth on the tree, such as mushrooms, brackets and conks are also signs of advanced decay.

What Are the Consequences of Tree Decay?

Decaying trees are weaker than healthy trees, and are at greater risk of spontaneously falling. Since decay diminishes a tree’s ability to withstand natural stress, it is fragile and the wood is more likely to crack.  Keep yourself, others and your property safe by cutting down a decaying tree before it hurts anyone.

Remove a Decaying Tree

In order to ensure your safety, contact a professional tree removal service to help assess the extent of the decay in your tree. TalkLocal will connect you with up to three tree removal professionals in just minutes, eliminating the hassle of searching one out yourself.

Although you can utilize a tree stump as a table or a chair to add value to your yard, it may be better to remove a tree stump. We have some tips for you on how to remove tree stumps. The main idea behind removing tree stumps is to not try to pry it from the ground head on (as this would be disastrous unless you had the proper tools), but to let it rot and soften until you can easily break it.

How to Remove Tree Stumps

1. Drill holes into the stump – do it from the top of the stump downwards to the base of the stump. Do not drill the holes perfectly vertically – slant them so that the big holes you drill intersect with the natural linings of the tree along the stems. The point of this is to aerate the holes – the more the insides of trees are exposed to air, the faster it will rot.

2. Purchase a stump remover from your local home improvement store. This is the chemical that will begin to rot the stump. Pour the chemical into the holes in the stump generously, but do not clog up the air holes.

3. The whole rotting process takes about three to six weeks depending on the humidity of the environment and the number of holes you drill. The rotting process is much faster under hot, humid conditions.

If you absolutely cannot wait for the stump to rot away, then you need to remove it by force. Do not try to tether the stump to a car and pull it out – doing so can severely injure you or your car. Rent a stump grinder. Under proper supervision or after learning how to use the tool properly, remove the stump with extra care.

Additional Help

If you feel like you do not know how to remove tree stumps properly and safely, just use TalkLocal. We will connect you with up to three, high-quality tree removal services in your area.

Shaping trees, also known as pruning, is a beneficial practice employed for many reasons. Shaping can encourage growth, prevent disease and breakage, and improve the overall health of many tree species, both decorative and fruit-bearing. Below, you will find several tips for shaping a tree which will be useful for both beginning growers and experienced arborists alike.

What to Cut

When deciding which branches to cut, it is important to closely examine your tree.

1. Choose any branches that are growing across or rubbing against other branches. Cut these first.

2. Remove branches that are growing at odd angles or have an obviously different growth pattern from the majority of the other branches, or branches that are growing toward the center of the tree.

3. Remove any branches that appear diseased or unhealthy. Also, any branches or limbs that are broken should be removed.

How to Cut

How the branches are cut is vital to the overall health of the tree. Never make the cut so close to the body of the three that the trunk is damaged.

1. Make a clean cut at a slight angle (approximately 30 degrees) away from the trunk of the tree approximately 1” from the body of the tree.

2. It is also important to make a cut on the underside of any large branches before making a cut to the top of the branch. Using this method will reduce the possibility of bark stripping on the underside of the branch.

3. When shortening a branch, make the cut at a side branch or a short distance above a bud.

When to Cut

Remember that shaping trees, or pruning, is best done in the late winter or early spring before the tree has started to bud.
Safety is important when shaping trees as significant injury can occur. Always wear appropriate safety gear including goggles, gloves, long pants and sleeves, and a hard hat if working with large branches.

Additional Help

If you would like a tree services professional, use TalkLocal! We will connect you with up to three high quality professionals in your area.

Trees should only be removed if necessary. They provide natural habitats for wildlife and shades for humans on the hottest summer days. However, when a tree is diseased or dead it is time for it to be cut down. Keep reading to learn about the pros and cons of tree removal.

Pros of Tree Removal

The advantages of tree removal include safety and disease prevention.

Dead trees are unstable and cannot handle natural stresses, such as weight and weather. They could spontaneously fall, which could injure people or destroy property. Also, if a part of a tree, such as a large branch, is hanging over your property, you may need to remove the tree entirely, but try to see if you can just remove the overhanging part before taking drastic measures.

Diseased trees must be treated or removed if the disease has spread too far. Sick trees could spread their disease to neighboring trees and plants. They also invite many unwanted microorganisms and pests. Diseased trees, like dead trees, are also very unstable and cannot handle natural elements or support their own weight. Overall, remove unhealthy trees for the benefit of the landscape.

Cons of Tree Removal

If you want to clear trees to build a garage or other structure, you may want to think twice. Can you live without the extra space? If so, do not remove the trees because they are more beneficial than you think.

Trees provide homes for many creatures and give you shade in the hot summer months, reducing your energy bill. Many animals, such as birds and squirrels, make homes in trees. Trees also help create oxygen and purify the toxins in the air we breathe. You are actually healthier for having trees around your home! They also serve as windbreakers. Wind can damage delicate plants and blow away topsoil, and trees can ease the severity of the gusts.

In addition to destroying wildlife habitats, tree removal can be expensive. Each tree removed could cost you $300 or more! So seriously consider the pros and cons of tree removal before you fire up that chainsaw.

Transplanting Trees

If you need to remove an inconvenient, but healthy tree, you can transplant it to a new location on your property where it will be of less risk to damaging your home. It would be a waste of nature to destroy a thriving tree.

Consult a tree removal expert to evaluate your trees. TalkLocal can connect you with top tree removal companies in your local area, so you can get the help you need, when you need it.

Training a tree is the process of pruning that creates good form and shape, as well as improves branch structure when the tree is young. Training is important for the tree’s health as well as the overall look of the tree. Keep reading to learn some tips for training young trees.

Why Train Young Trees?

Training trees improves their strength and structure. This corrective pruning method prevents the tree from having branch or trunk problems in the future, which means the tree will have a longer, healthier lifespan.

When to Train Young Trees

Training begins when the tree is 3 years old. This ensures that its growth is not stunted. You may begin removing dead, broken or diseased branches at any stage in the tree’s growth.

Tips for Training Young Trees

1. Pick a high branch to be the leader, in other words, the highest branch at the top to “lead” the tree upwards. There is usually a central stem that grows in the middle of the tree. Select the most vertically oriented stem and prune away the surrounding ones so that they do not compete for sunlight with the central stem.

2. Choose the lowest permanent branch. This scaffold branch will be determined by how you plan to use the tree and where the tree is located. For instance, if you plan on putting a sidewalk beneath the tree, you want the lowest permanent scaffold branch to be higher up so that you have room to comfortably walk beneath it. This branch must be strong and stably joined to the tree trunk, and must have a diameter of at most half of the trunk’s diameter where it is attached to the trunk.

3. Select the other permanent scaffold branches that are firmly and strongly attached to the trunk and remove competing branches. This will help the tree’s form and will help maintain a stable structure. The permanent scaffold branches should be about 12 inches apart from each other. Weak branches need to be removed or pruned in such a way to direct them.

4. As the tree ages, the scaffold branches will thicken and the space between them will decrease, so you may need to remove some of these branches.

Overall, prune just enough to direct the tree’s growth and correct structural weakness.

Additional Help

If you would like more tips for training young trees, or if you want professional help, just use TalkLocal. We will connect you with up to three high quality, local landscapers in your area, in just minutes!

When asking the question – do I need a license to cut down trees, you first need to figure out what specific trees you talking about. If you mean a couple trees in your backyard, then you free entirely free to do so, as these trees are your property. But be careful not to damage anything when the tree falls down — this includes you and your property as well as your neighbors and their properties. Make sure that you are taking the right precautions.

How to Cut Down a Tree

Dress for the occasion: A simple t-shirt and jeans won’t cut it. Wear a durable jacket, some protective headgear, jeans, and closed toe shoes to account for the tree debris. Then choose the direction which you want the tree to fall and clear that area of all objects. Make sure people in the area steer clear of the area and are aware of your tree removal project.

Next, assess the tree. Look at the slope of the ground and the slope of the tree itself. Needless to say, the slope in which you cut the tree and the slope of the ground is a more favorable direction for the tree to fall due to sheer gravity. Also, watch out for the branch distribution of the tree — the more branches it has on a side, the more weight that side carries.

Start by using a chainsaw to make a wedge cut from the direction which you want the tree to fall. Take the chainsaw at an angle that is slanted upward, at a 30 degree angle. Run the chainsaw through the tree at that slope, but do not cut the entire width of the tree. Only cut about 70% of it. You should now have a hanging cut in the tree.

Now make another wedge cut, slanted downwards at about the same angle and the same direction from which you want the tree to fall into. The two cuts should converge and leave a block of wood hanging loose in the tree. Take the block of wood out and you should have a “chipped” tree.

Push or kick the tree in the direction you want it to fall. This shouldn’t be too hard, as you have a chipped incline in the tree that guides the fall. Stand in the opposite direction of the incline and kick the tree away from you. Take into account the evenness of your footwear and the wind current if there is any.

Additional Help

If you feel like you need professional consultation on how to cut tree, TalkLocal can help with finding the correct local experts in this case, saving you time and energy in what may be a stressful situation.

Trees play a critical role on our planet. They are responsible for providing us with food and oxygen, they filter our air and make Earth livable for humans, and they preserve soil and support wildlife. In short, trees are an essential part of our lives and deserve our respect. However, sometimes, trees become cumbersome and difficult to manage when they become too big and get in the way of other things you may want to grow. Alternatively, a tree can break due to a storm, leaving just the stump and roots remaining. With either of these situations, removing roots may be necessary. Unfortunately, removing a tree’s roots, especially older, larger trees, can be a tough, long process. Luckily, this is the perfect article to read if you want to know how to remove tree roots.

Since the first step to removing roots is to remove the stump, you will want to make sure this has been removed before proceeding. If you haven’t yet completed this step, go here to learn how. Removing tree roots requires the proper equipment, meaning a shovel/hoe and a chainsaw/ax/loppers.

Once you have gathered all your materials, the next step is to expose all the outlying roots. Dig around the base until the roots are exposed. Then, use your root-cutting equipment (chainsaw, ax, or loppers) to cut the tree roots. The key to root removal is to dig all around the roots, including underneath them, to make it easier to cut the roots. The best way of cutting thicker roots is to make a clean cut in a circular shape around the different sides of the root to join the incisions into one large incision. Also, cut smaller roots before moving on to larger roots. This will allow you to remove older and thicker tree roots that have had time to grow.

Once you have finished digging and cutting, you will have a large hole in your ground where roots used to be. To make the land fertile again, clean away any old fragments of root or stump. Then, place soil and/or sod to ensure the area returns to its previous glamour.

If you need help removing your tree stump or roots, consider using TalkLocal to find a tree removal specialist for you. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality, tree removal companies in your neighborhood within minutes. Just enter in your specific problem, location, and availability, and up to three companies will call YOU directly, saving you the time and stress of finding one yourself.

Trees are an essential part of life – responsible for creating peaceful, aesthetically pleasing environments and being responsible for producing two of life’s essentials: food and oxygen. Trees contribute to their environment by improving air quality, providing us with oxygen, preserving soil, supporting wildlife, and much more. But when a tree dies, all of that contribution withers away. So how do you know if a tree is dead? It’s not complicated if you know what to look for.

First off, you want to make sure you know whether the tree is dormant or actually dying. Seasons like winter and fall aren’t very conducive to tree growth and it may make the tree appear to be dead when it is actually just dormant. These dormant trees may also have bumps along the stump or along limbs that are the beginnings of new branches being formed. If these are present, then your tree is still very much alive.

To tell if it’s dying, look for the initial signs that may indicate severe stress. Look for changes such as differences in leaf color, leaves dropping prematurely, brown dull-looking leaves with brown stems, etc. Another easy way to tell is to try breaking off a branch. An alive tree branch will resist the force of someone trying to break a branch, whereas a dead or dying tree branch will be more brittle and easy to break.

Even if all the leaves are gone, that doesn’t necessarily mean your tree is dead. It could just be part of the tree’s cycle. If you aren’t sure whether your tree is dead or not, it may be a good idea to wait and see if the leaves come back by spring. Make sure to continue watering and fertilizing the tree to give it a chance to rejuvenate, and if they aren’t back by the time they are supposed to be back, it may be time to dispose of the tree and plant a new one.

If you need help determining whether your tree is dead, or if you need help removing the tree trunk and stump, consider using TalkLocal to find a tree removal specialist for you. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality, tree removal companies in your neighborhood within minutes. Just enter in your specific problem, location and availability, and up to three companies will call YOU directly, saving you the time and stress of finding one yourself.

Chances are that strong wind movements knocked down the tree to your car as opposed to someone chainsawing the tree down. In situations like this, you may be wanting to know, “If a tree falls on my car who is responsible?” Unfortunate events that happen due to natural forces (wind from a hurricane, tornado, typhoon, etc) are considered as “acts of God” in legal terms, and are not compensated by anyone.

Legalities

Well, there is some gray area in which you can argue to get some compensation by holding someone responsible. However, that is the only way to receive compensation. An insurance will not handle damage by natural occurrence if you do not have the comprehensive coverage.

You can argue that the tree (if it wasn’t your tree that fell on top of your car)’s roots were rotten, and that the owner of the tree was setting up a hazard by not removing it. For this, you will have to verify that the tree roots were rotten or the tree was misplaced posed as a significant danger. In both cases, evidence is required.

Or if the tree is yours and you have a gardener do the work for your house, you can argue that the reason that the tree fell down was because the tree was weak at its base, which was essentially the gardener’s fault.

Or maybe it’s simply your fault because you failed to recognize that your own tree was in a bad condition, and that parking the car near the tree despite the knowing a bad storm was coming was a bad decision.

Depending on the amount and the type of damage, the car would need various types of work done. So it is generally not advised to drive an unrepaired car until a full assessment can be done. Call a nearby repair company and ask them to tow the car for you so that they can do an assessment at the location/fix it in their shop.

Additional Help

If a tree falls on my car, who is responsible? Probably you or no one, depending on the circumstances. If you feel like you need professional consultation — or a repairman for your car — TalkLocal can help with finding the correct local experts. Get connected to one in minutes!

Whether a strong storm just blew through your neighborhood, or you have a dead tree in your yard that looks like it might fall down soon, it is possible to cut it down on yourself. It’s extremely important though for you to take the appropriate precautions, and to only complete such a task if you have the relevant experience.

Here’s a list of the things for cutting a tree down safely:

– eye protection
– ear protection
– working gloves
– chainsaw
– axe

How to cut down the tree:

1. Examine the area around the tree and figure out which way the tree is leaning. When you decide which direction you want the tree to fall in (it will most likely have to be in the direction the tree is leaning), be sure that area is clear and is big enough for the tree to land in without causing any other damage.

2. Clear out a couple of escape routes, either to the side or at a 45-degree angle from the direction you expect the tree to fall.

3. The first cut you will make is a wedge cut. On the side of the tree where you want it to fall, use the chainsaw to cut a notch slightly above the base of the tree. This notch should be about a third of the diameter of the tree. Next, at about a foot above the first cut, take your chainsaw and make an intersecting cut at a 45-degree angle to the tree. This should make a wedge-shaped cutout of bark. Remove this piece.

4. Go back around to the other side of the tree, opposite of the wedge cut you just made. About 2 inches above the level of your first horizontal cut, make a parallel cut on this side of the tree, and start sawing through. This should be a SLOW process, and it is critical to keep your eye on the tree.

5. Stop sawing when you are about three inches away from edge. If the tree isn’t falling, give it a small push.

You can also check out this helpful YouTube video which explains the process thoroughly.

If the job at hand is too large or too difficult to complete on your own, it may be a better idea to contact an experienced tree removal professional. Try using TalkLocal, a free service that will connect you with top-quality, reliable tree removal companies in your neighborhood, within minutes. All you need to do is enter in your problem, location, and availability and TalkLocal will contact multiple professionals, who will then call YOU directly, ready to help.