Indications a Tree Requires Assistance, Not to Be Put Down
Is there a tree in your yard that has not been in the best of shape of late? You may be concerned it is on its way out and mulling over if it should be cut down. Or perhaps you are of the mind to see if it can be put right.
We at Tree Specialists, Inc. know what those worries are about. From our Holliston offices we have been the arborists for MetroWest Boston since 1981, and we put as much art into our work as science. Preservation is what we are all about, not removal. Give us a ring at (351) 300-7964 and we can discuss the situation with your tree.
All too readily one will put an axe to a tree in distress when some care would have done. In fact, most of the things that set off alarm bells in a homeowner are amenable to treatment, you just have to be able to interpret them.
Reading the Signs of a Struggling Tree
A tree will make its displeasure known through the bark, the roots, the leaves and branches. But do not mistake a sick tree for a lost cause. There are telltale signs of a tree in need of help:
- Yellowing or diminished foliage in the midst of the growing season
- Leaves going before autumn does
- An otherwise sound canopy marred by dead or brittle limbs
- Wounds, or bark that is peeling and cracked
- Mushrooms or fungus at the base of the trunk
- One side of the tree with little growth
- Roots in soil that is hard packed or perpetually soggy
They might appear alarming but they are no more than clues to a cause an arborist can put his finger on, and for many there is a remedy.
Problems That Can Be Put Right
There is always a reason a tree goes into decline, a change in its health or surroundings. Yet some homeowners will make the worst of it and go for removal without a second thought. A pity, as much of what ails a tree can be remedied.
Take nutrient deficiency; it will manifest itself in poor growth and yellow leaves, but a bit of plant health care and working the soil will put it right. Pests and disease are another matter, though nipping them in the bud with early intervention can be the difference between fatal and fine. We can improve aeration and drainage where waterlogged or compacted earth is choking the roots. Even the aftermath of a storm can be put to rights with the right kind of pruning.
Our ISA Certified Arborists will look beyond the symptom at hand to the whole of the picture. The science is important in making a diagnosis before we act.
If Removal Is Warranted
Honesty is our policy. Some trees present a danger to property and people and cannot be saved. For safety’s sake a tree that is structurally deficient or entirely dead has to go.
To that end we employ a consulting arborist to do a proper risk assessment. Should your tree be a hazard we will not mince words. Nor will we if it is something we can put back in good standing. We are more interested in the well being of your landscape than in a hasty removal.
The Case for Preservation
Consider that a mature tree is worth a great deal to the property, to say nothing of the shade and air quality it provides and the wildlife it harbours. It has taken decades to come by and you cannot put a price on those years once it is gone. This is why we would prefer to see a tree with life in it yet recover.
Ticks
On the subject of a healthy outdoor environment, we provide tick management as well. It is a separate service but makes for a safer yard for the family. You can enquire when you call.
Let an Expert Have a Look First
Do not think you have to remove a tree that is giving you pause. Our certified arborists can give you an unvarnished, science based opinion of the matter. We are licensed and insured and have covered Wellesley, Natick, Framingham, Newton and the rest of MetroWest from 1981. Office hours are 8:00am to 3:30pm Monday to Thursday and 9:00am to 3:00 on Friday. Call (351) 300-7964 and see if your tree can be helped rather than said goodbye to.
