There are a couple of aspects of landscaping that get overlooked despite their crucial importance. Trees are a prime example, as they convert carbon dioxide to oxygen and act as a home for local wildlife. They are incredibly important to both the environment and your landscape. Mature trees are known to increase property value, as they provide both privacy and protection to the landscape. However, trees do need maintenance like fertilization and trimming. These services add nutrients and remove decaying foliage that could spread the disease elsewhere to the tree. Sometimes, this disease can spread to the rest of the tree, or a tree just dies of natural causes. In any case, you need to know what signs to look out for that indicate a need for tree removal.
Undesirable Species
If this is a new property that you recently purchased or begun to manage, you might not know anything about the trees in your landscape. The best practice is to figure out what species these are, as there are some species that should just be removed for no other reason than that. These trees can have characteristically weak foliage that likes to break or shallow root systems that can damage soil and structures. They could even be prone to diseases and pests that you would rather not deal with. Work with your landscaper to determine if this applies to you.
Lopsided Damage
One good metric in determining if the damage is too far gone is if the damage exceeds 50 percent of the tree. This will usually present itself with the tree being lopsided, half healthy, half sick. Usually means that a disease has spread to one entire side of the tree – it is pretty much a goner. Cutting your losses is the best bet – removing the tree before it causes any more problems.
Fungi Growing at Base of Tree
Many mushrooms are harmless and do not indicate anything wrong with a tree. However, many varieties are commonly associated with root diseases, such as internal root rot. At a bare minimum, you will want to have an arborist or tree care specialist check this out and make sure you are not ignoring a larger problem.
Leaning Trees
Some trees do grow at a slight angle, and this is totally fine. However, more than 15 percent lean in either direction, especially occurring all of the sudden after years of vertical growth – indicates a big problem. These are severe safety hazards, as at this point, anything from a strong storm to severe wind could knock the tree down entirely, crushing what is beneath.
Trunk Damaged or Hollowed
Another great indicator that tree removal should be looked into is that there are vertical cracks, seams, or wounds appearing on the trunk. These symptoms can imply that there is internal decay, or that the interior of the tree is hollowed or rotten. While it may be nothing to worry about, it is always better to have it checked than for a tree to fall over.
If you want your outdoor living experience to go well beyond the ordinary without even leaving your yard, we’re the landscape firm that can take you there. Environmental Resources Group has provided world-class commercial landscaping and grounds maintenance services for many businesses and institutions in the D.C. Metro Area. Visit our website or give us a call today at (301) 570-3070.