You’ve noticed a tree in your yard is dying or dead, and it’s a little bit sad… But you aren’t sure if you should remove it, or it can be left alone for a while. The answer is that no, unfortunately you should not leave a dead or dying tree in place. It can be a bit inconvenient to address this problem, but it’s much better than handling some of the potential consequences of leaving it alone.

You should remove a dead or dying tree for the following six reasons…

Dead branches can fall. At any moment, dried-out dead branches can snap off and fall. They can land on cars, your roof, or even people, making them incredibly dangerous to both property and lives.

The entire tree could fall. Dead trees dry out and become brittle, and can easily topple in even moderate wind. Sometimes they come down at unexpected moments, and it can be difficult to predict where they will fall. This means danger to both your home and anyone nearby.

Power lines could be damaged. If a dead tree falls onto a power line, this creates a major hazard. Plus, the power company must come out to remove the tree. You won’t be able to safely handle this yourself.

Insurance might not cover damages. Some homeowners insurance policies might exclude coverage of damage from fallen trees. Check your policy to be sure.

Pests become a problem. Termites and other pests love to take up residence in dead trees. From there, they might spread to other trees or even your home.

They’re just plain unattractive. And of course, a dead tree really detracts from your otherwise lovely landscape. Your property value could suffer, too.

If you have a dead or dying tree in your yard, give us a call. We’ll perform an estimate for you, and help you to decide whether the tree needs to come down soon.