Bright red, tall and very autumnal, sweetgum trees are the epitome of beauty. However, these tall trees can be a great deal of danger if get damaged or infested and fall down. So, here are some signs that you need to look out for when you want to remove a sweetgum tree with the help of tree cutting services.

When To Remove A Sweetgum Tree?

The General Tree Health Is Declining

One of the most alarming signs of a sweetgum tree when it is close to falling without any grace is when the tree just looks not healthy at all. See, when you see a healthy tree and a not-so-healthy one side by side, you would know which one is hanging onto its last threads.

The tree looks lifeless, the leaves are falling down even though it’s not autumn yet, and it just doesn’t look in good shape. This is when you really want to think about getting the tree inspected and consider removing it. You don’t want to necessarily have the tree checked for problems or why it doesn’t look so good. That is kind of not the point anymore.

What you now want to do is ensure that the tree doesn’t become a falling hazard and lead to damage to anything or anyone on the ground. So, you want to work to get it removed for good.

The Tree Is Leaning

This is also a very bad sign and it can indicate either a health-related problem with the tree or it can be an anchoring issue that has to do with the roots, both of which are bad. So, if you see that the normally straight sweetgum tree is leaning heavily off to one side, then it is anything but a good sign.

You want to immediately think about either supporting it or if that is out of the question, then you want to consider getting it removed. That is pretty much the only option you have.

Leaves Turning Brown

If you see that the bright reddish orange leaves of the sweetgum tree are now turning an ugly shade of brown, then that is not a good sign at all. It is usually a sign of disease or decay, and you don’t want to wait around to find out what can happen next. This is probably out of your hands now and you can’t do anything but either have the tree treated or get it removed.

Chances are that if the tree leaves are turning brown and lifeless, then you’re probably at a point of no return and it’s better that you just have the tree removed.

Hollow Trunk

This is also a very common problem with sweetgum trees and that is the fact that the trunk can get hollow. It is a bad sign and it can either be due to the infestation of fungus or termites, which eat away the inside of the trunk and all you’re left with is a hollow trunk, which is no stronger than an empty can that can get crushed by the slightest of forces.

So, you want to ensure that you’re not waiting for too long and getting rid of the tree before it falls down on something or someone.

The Tree Is Sick

Trees are living beings too. They need food and water to survive and they have systems in their trunks and barks that ensure that they can take care of themselves. But, just like living beings, trees can also fall sick, and they are unable to take care of themselves anymore.

This makes them prone to disease, and sometimes, the tree’s own defense mechanism isn’t enough to fight the foreign bodies off. This can lead to a decline in health and the sweetgum tree has to be removed one way or the other. So, consult tree services Kensington sooner than later to avoid mishaps.

There’s A Safety Risk

A sick tree is a safety risk for anything and anyone on the ground. If you think that a sweetgum tree is literally hanging onto its last threads, then you need to immediately have the tree removed. If there are houses down, cars parked, and even people, then you want to ensure that you’re not risking anything.

You need to have the tree removed before the impact of the falling tree turns everything into a flat piece of trash. This is why you want to be stealthy when it comes to removing a tree, because time is of the essence.

Roots Are Old

Larger and taller trees have very deep roots, but sometimes, they can also be exposed on the ground or they can get loose from the bottom and cause the tree to lean. Roots are like anchors – nails if you will – and they help to keep the tree secured on the ground so that anything like strong winds or even floods can’t tear the tree off the ground.

However, if the tree has weak roots and they’re showing on the surface, then that is not a good sign and the same goes for a sweetgum tree. You need to get it removed or cut down before it falls on its own.

The Tree Is Too Tall

Sweetgum trees are known to be tall. They can be anywhere between 50 and 75 meters and that is a long tree you’re looking at. Well, even though these tall trees may look majestic, they can also fall the hardest when they are not able to support themselves on the ground.

So, if that is the case, then you want to ensure that you’re removing the tree for good, because the bigger they are, the harder they fall and you don’t want to witness the damage a falling tree can inflict onto anything within its radius.

Serious Tree Wounds

Tree wounds don’t necessarily cause the sweetgum tree to fall down, but they do have a hand in declining the tree’s health, and ultimately, it can lead to the tree losing its grip and leaning or even falling down, if you notice things too late.

Well, if you see that the trunk of the tree is mottled with wounds, then you want to hit the ground running, because this is really bad. You don’t want the tree to fall on its own, because that is a disaster waiting to happen.

Falling Branches

On the topic of falling, you also want to see if there are any fallen branches surrounding the tree. Branches can fall sometimes and even though that’s not alarming, it is when healthy branches start to fall down and they wilt and turn brown and twisted. That is bad and it usually points towards a decay or infection in the tree.

The tree is very sick and is unable to hold the weight of the branches, which causes the wood to snap and fall. It won’t be long before the same thing happens to the very sweetgum tree.

Conclusion

Sweetgum trees are beautiful but you definitely don’t want to wait around until they fall on something unexpectedly. So, if you notice these signs, call in tree removal companies Chevy Chase for safe tree felling.