Give your trees a checkup
Late winter and early spring are the best times to prune trees. Look for problems now so you can plan to have them taken care of. There are two things you should be aware of when deciding if a tree needs attention: The health of the tree, and whether or not there’s a “target” that it would hit if it fell.
First, does the tree have lots of dead branches? Is there serious damage to the trunk between the ground and the first live branch? Damage might be rot, large wounds, splitting bark or narrow forks in the tree.
Second, what would the tree hit if all or part of it fell? A damaged tree that could hit your house or a neighbor’s house is a hazard. Damaged trees close to where you or others spend time should be your top priority.
If you’re still unsure which trees need attention, local tree service companies can help you assess the trees on your lot. You should get this checked out now, before you start to think about additions to the house or other landscaping projects. It’s always a good idea to get a couple of estimates. And keep in mind that topping, or cutting back main branches to stubs, is never a good way to renovate a tree – if a tree service recommends this approach, get another opinion.
