By Ryan Burnett, ISA Certified Arborist · Buds Tree Care
A big tree takes decades to grow, so removal should be the last choice, not the first. Here's how we help homeowners decide.
Signs a tree can often be saved
Most of the canopy is healthy and leafing out. The problem is one weak limb, a split you can support with cabling, or an insect we can treat, like emerald ash borer caught early. The roots and trunk are solid.
Signs removal is usually the right call
More than about half the canopy is dead. The trunk has major decay, deep cracks or large cavities. The roots are badly damaged, or the tree has started to lean. The tree is a serious risk to your home or family and can't be made safe.
What else we consider
The species (some trees live much longer than others), where the tree stands, how much it adds to your shade and property, and what it would cost to keep it healthy compared to removing it.
The honest answer comes from seeing the tree
Our ISA Certified Arborists will look at it and tell you plainly whether it can stay, needs work, or should come down. Book a tree health evaluation at budstreecare.com/tree-health-evaluation or call (217) 239-1220.