Trees are beautiful creations! They provide shade, food, shelter and are a source of the world’s oxygen. However, trees do grow old and sometimes grow in undesirable areas that could pose a danger to other trees and plants around it, as well as to structures and people. Sometimes tree removal in Tauranga is a necessity. How do you know when a tree is beyond being maintained and needs to be removed? Here are some tips on what to look out for when deciding whether you should call an arborist out to remove a problematic tree from your property.

Undesirable Species 

Some trees are not desirable species for the area in which you live. Alien species could be encroaching on indigenous species, stealing their water and light and killing off other flora around them. It might be best to remove such a tree species to protect the environment around it. In other cases, a species is simply undesirable because it creates mess by dropping a lot of foliage onto driveways, lawns, cars and rooftops.

Tree Health

The tree’s health is a major determining factor in whether or not to keep it. If more than 50% of the tree is damaged or dead, then there is a good chance that the tree should be removed entirely. Trees that are dying or in decline can still live for a long time but will tend to have abnormal growth patterns and look strange in general. A tree that is in decline should probably be removed.

The Trunk

A visual inspection of the trunk will reveal the tree’s health and determine whether the tree should be removed. If there are vertical cracks within the tree trunk, then there’s a good chance that the tree has internal damage and rot and might be a candidate for removal. If the tree is hollowed out completely, that’s another scenario in which the tree might be at risk of collapse and need to be removed. However, damaged and hollowed trunks are not always a sure sign of a tree needing to be removed, as trees can survive quite comfortably with this kind of damage.

Dead Branches 

If a tree has a large number of dead branches, especially if it’s a large tree, then those dead branches could become a hazard. If more than 25% of the tree’s branches are dead, it might need to be removed. If many of the dead branches are all on one side of the tree, then removing them will result in a lopsided tree that could be potentially dangerous as it could topple over. There could be a problem with the roots or significant trunk damage on one side. An arborist should take a good look at this to determine whether or not the tree can survive.

Leaning Tree

Leaning trees tend to be a hazard, particularly if you notice a sudden change in the tree’s position. If the leaning occurs dramatically overnight, then there is definitely something wrong and it should probably be cut down. If it is leaning more than 15% from vertical, then there’s a good chance that the tree will need to be removed. For expert tree removal in Tauranga, contact us at Tree Control today!