Most trees that worry people are fine. Some aren’t, and a few are a real hazard to a house, a driveway or a power line. Here’s how to tell the difference before the weather decides for you.
The five signs
- It’s dead, or most of the way there. A dead tree gets more dangerous every season, and more expensive to take down safely once the wood goes soft.
- It’s leaning toward something that matters. A house, a driveway, a power line, a barn. A tree that leans further than it used to is the one to worry about.
- There’s decay in the trunk. A cavity or soft spot at the base means the tree can fail without warning.
- It split at the fork. Two stems growing tight together with bark pinched between them is the most common failure we see after an ice storm.
- It’s in the way. Building, septic, a fence line, or a view of the lake.
A cavity or soft spot at the base means the tree can fail in a wind you wouldn’t think twice about.
The trees that give people trouble around here
Thirty-three years in the same counties teaches you which trees call us out.
| Tree | Why it causes trouble |
|---|---|
| Tulip poplar | Grows fast and tall. A mature one over a house is a serious piece of work, and when they fail they fail all at once. |
| Black locust | Everywhere in this area and brittle. It decays from the inside while still looking healthy from the road. |
| Leyland cypress | Planted in rows for screening, then blows over. The roots stay shallow and the whole row catches wind like a sail. |
| Pines | Common on rural and lakefront lots. An exposed pine that has lost its neighbors to clearing can uproot in saturated ground. |
| Red maple and the oaks | Usually sound, but they get big, and a large dead limb over a driveway is a hazard on its own. |
Take it down, or prune it?
Not every worrying tree needs removing. If a tree is sound but the limbs are in the wrong place, pruning is the better answer, and it usually costs less. We’ll say so rather than sell you a removal.
Pruning may do it
- Sound tree, limbs over the roof
- Dead limbs in an otherwise healthy tree
- Limbs over the driveway or the line to the house
Usually comes down
- Dead or nearly dead
- Decay or a cavity at the base
- Split at the fork with half of it hanging
- Leaning further than it was
Want a straight answer on yours?David comes out, looks at it and gives you a price. No charge, no obligation.
Get a free estimateWhat makes one removal cost more than another
Two trees that look alike can be priced quite differently. It comes down to a handful of things:
- Height and trunk diameter. More tree means more climbing, more rigging and more wood to handle.
- What’s underneath it. A tree in an open lawn can be dropped. One over a roof, a dock or a power line has to come down piece by piece.
- Access. Steep lake lots, narrow driveways, soft ground and fenced back yards all add labor.
- Condition. A storm-damaged tree, or one hung up in another, is more dangerous and takes longer.
- The wood. Hauling it all away is different from leaving you the logs.
We price the job after looking at it, not from a chart. That’s why the estimate is free. See how a removal goes, start to finish, on our tree removal page.
When it can’t wait
Call the 24/7 line, 540-871-8338, if a tree is on your house, garage or vehicle, is blocking the only way out, is partly uprooted and leaning further, or has a limb hung up in the canopy. Hung-up limbs fall without warning, so keep everyone out from under them. If anything is touching a power line, call the power company first. More on emergency tree service.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take down a tree next to my house?
Yes. That’s most of what we do. A tree close to a structure gets dismantled in sections and lowered with ropes rather than felled.
Does removal include the stump?
No. Standard removal leaves the stump cut low to the ground. Stump grinding is separate work, and we’ll price both at the same visit so you can decide.
Do I need to be home?
Not for the work, as long as we’ve agreed the scope and we can get to it. Most people are at work when we come.
Will you take the wood away?
Either way. Most people want it gone and we haul it. If you burn wood, say so and we’ll cut it to length and stack it instead of chipping it.
What about a tree near a power line?
Call us and we’ll look. Lines that run from the pole to your house we can often work around. If it’s a primary utility line, that’s the power company’s to de-energize first, and we’ll tell you so.
