3 Reasons to Hire a Local Tree Professional

Let’s set the scene:

You own a piece of property and it’s either surrounded by trees in a wooded area or has a massive, yet gorgeous, oak or maple tree in the front lawn. In fact, those native trees are part of what drew you to the property to begin with.

Since it is your property, it feels only natural that you tend to the trees that attracted your attention. We applaud you. Educating you about trees and how to care for them is why our entire blog exists after all.

However, knowing when it’s time to call in a professional is also an important part of tree care.

Here are few questions to ask that indicate your tree needs a professional arborist:

1. Is the tree on your property more than 10 feet tall?

While weeds in your landscaping may appear to sprout and grow overnight, trees do not. Even those that are considered “fast growing” like Ailanthus “Tree of Heaven”, a type of invasive tree to the Tennessee Valley region, still take multiple years to reach this height.

So if the tree that attracted you (or maybe even repelled you in a “oh that has to be removed” way), has been around for years that means the roots are deep, the branches can be heavy and accidents can occur if you attempt to tackle it yourself.

We have a variety of safety precautions our team takes before pruning and/or removing a tree to ensure not only that we avoid injury for the person doing the work, but also minimal impact to the rest of your property.

If the tree does need to be removed rather than pruned, we’ll need to grind the stump, a process that could take you a full day or more of manual work, so it doesn’t grow back.

2. Do you know the tree species and how it should be cared for?

There are many tree species in our region and various types (or colors) within each species. Some grow naturally where you find them and others are transplanted from other areas for landscaping purposes. Just like animals that require different environments and food to survive (and thrive!) trees have those same needs.

Uprooting and replanting one type of tree will be fine while others will die after they are moved. Trimming a tree’s branches is usually great for preserving its health, though the wrong angle while cutting can prevent the tree from properly healing and could allow pathogens or rot to enter the tree. .

That means understanding the tree’s species, amount of light and water it requires, and how to properly care for it for maximum longevity is key. Consulting with a professional arborist will allow you to understand what your tree’s specific needs are and how to best care for them.

3. Is the tree(s) leaving a mess in your yard?

Whether it’s dropping a ton of needles, seeds or branches, tree remnants around your lawn is a clear indicator it’s time to call in a specialist. This could be a result:

1. An infestation in the tree, which can be treated
2. Indicators of internal diseases that could weaken it and compromise any nearby structures on your property if/when it falls
3. Storm damage

In any case, having a professional to assess the situation and create a plan for treating the tree or safely removing it is your best bet to avoid damage to your landscaping, house, or even bodily injury by tackling a tree removal without property cabling and bracing.