Quick Answer: You should consider calling a tree service when a tree has dead or hanging branches, starts leaning, shows cracks or decay, suffers storm damage, or grows too close to your home. Some problems may only require pruning, while serious structural damage may require removal.
Dead or Hanging Branches
Dead branches can weaken and fall, especially during strong winds or storms. Watch for limbs with no leaves during the growing season, dry or brittle wood, hanging branches, or limbs that have split from a larger branch.
If the rest of the tree is healthy, pruning may be enough to remove the problem without taking down the whole tree.
A Tree Has Started Leaning
Some trees naturally grow at an angle, so a lean does not always mean the tree is unsafe. A new or worsening lean is more concerning, especially if you notice lifting soil, exposed roots, cracks near the base, or movement after a storm.
A tree leaning toward a home, garage, driveway, or other structure should be evaluated to determine whether it can remain safely in place.
Cracks, Hollow Areas, or Decay
Deep cracks, large cavities, soft wood, loose bark, mushrooms near the trunk, or dead areas in the canopy can be signs of decay or structural weakness.
A hollow tree does not automatically need to be removed. The location and amount of damage matter. If the tree has serious structural problems, removal may be the safer option.
Storm Damage
Strong winds and storms can leave trees with broken branches, split trunks, damaged roots, hanging limbs, or a sudden lean. Some damage is easy to see, while other problems may be higher in the tree.
Large hanging limbs, split trunks, exposed roots, or a damaged tree leaning toward a structure should be checked promptly. Do not try to remove large hanging branches yourself.
If a tree or branch is touching a power line, stay away and contact the utility company.
Branches Are Growing Too Close to Your Home
Branches may need pruning if they are touching the roof, growing into gutters, rubbing against siding, or hanging over driveways and walkways.
This does not always mean the tree needs to be removed. Careful pruning can often create the needed clearance while keeping a healthy tree in place.
The Tree Looks Unhealthy
Tree problems do not always appear suddenly. Changes may happen slowly over several seasons.
Signs worth watching include fewer leaves than usual, dead branches near the top, bark falling off, thinning on one side of the canopy, or more dead wood than in previous years.
These symptoms can have many causes, so one sign does not always tell you what is wrong. If your tree has changed noticeably, an evaluation can help identify the next step.
Does the Tree Need Pruning or Removal?
Pruning may be enough when most of the tree is healthy and the problem is limited to certain branches. This may include dead limbs, storm-damaged branches, crossing branches, or limbs growing too close to a structure.
Removal may be considered when the tree has major structural damage, serious decay, severe root problems, extensive storm damage, or has died.
The goal should be to address the problem without removing the tree unless removal is necessary.
What About a Tree Stump?
After a tree is removed, the stump may remain behind. Some homeowners leave it in place, while others remove it because it interferes with mowing, landscaping, or future use of the yard.
A stump may also produce new shoots or slowly decay over time.
Why an Arborist Evaluation Helps
Some tree problems are difficult to judge from the ground. A dead branch may only need pruning, while a tree with root movement, major decay, or structural damage may need more attention.
Josh Newsome’s Tree Surgery is led by ISA Certified Arborist Koleman Joshua Newsome. An arborist can evaluate the condition of the tree and help determine whether pruning, monitoring, storm cleanup, or removal makes sense.
Tree Service in Anderson, Indiana
Homeowners in Anderson may need professional tree care for many reasons, from routine pruning to storm damage or a tree that has started showing signs of decline.
If you are not sure what your tree needs, start with an evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a tree is dangerous?
Warning signs can include dead or hanging branches, cracks, sudden leaning, root movement, major decay, or storm damage. One sign alone does not always mean a tree is dangerous, but several problems together may be a reason to have it checked.
Does a leaning tree need to be removed?
Not always. Some trees naturally grow at an angle. A new or worsening lean is more concerning, especially if the soil or roots are also moving.
Can a damaged tree be saved?
Sometimes. It depends on where the damage occurred, how much of the tree is affected, and whether the remaining structure is sound. In some cases, pruning may be enough.
Should dead branches be removed?
Dead branches that could fall on people, vehicles, homes, driveways, or walkways should be evaluated and removed when they create a falling hazard.
Can I inspect a tree myself?
You can look for visible warning signs from the ground. Avoid climbing a damaged tree or trying to remove large limbs yourself, especially after a storm.
Not Sure What Your Tree Needs?
If a tree on your Anderson property is damaged, leaning, overgrown, or showing signs of decline, Josh Newsome’s Tree Surgery can help determine the next step.