The importance of trees cannot be underestimated. Trees add beauty to a home, provide shade, hold soil and help in keeping the air clean. Despite all this good, there comes a time when you have to cut down your tree due to one reason or another. But when exactly is the right time?

1. When the Tree is Leaning

A leaning tree can lead to destruction of property and loss of lives. To determine if the lean is dangerous, check the vertical height of the tree first. If the lean is more than 15 percent of its vertical height, then it needs to be removed. A tree may lean due to a number of reasons but they mostly relate to its root.

If the tree is planted with a poorly developed root system, then the tree is bound to lean when growing up. If the roots grow in soil that is always wet, they may rot and fail to provide proper support to the tree, which will have no choice but to lean.

2. When the Trunk Starts to Fork or Decay

If you observe a forked trunk (separated into two), particularly when one part grows outwards instead of upwards, it could be a signal of weakness that calls for tree removal. Narrow-angled forks are not better either as they are likely to catch an infection, which is normally indicated by an exuding sap.

Internal decay of the trunk is also a sign that you should remove the tree. Indications of internal decay include conks (fruiting bodies of fungi), cankers (disfiguration) and cavities.

3. When the Tree Develops Cracks and Wounds

You may have to end the life of your tree when it develops cracks. Some cracks, for instance frost cracks, have little or no effect on the strength of the trunk. But if there are two vertical cracks on opposite sides of the trunk, it is a signal of root damage and is considered extremely dangerous.

A wound is a pathway to decay and if it is extending to the ground, it needs to be examined.

4. When the Tree Grows Too Close to Your House

A tree may not tamper with the foundations of your house, but it might be the leading reason of its subsidence when it grows too close to the house and if the house is built on clay soil. A building subsides when moisture is sucked out of the soil, a task that trees can execute efficiently. In fact, 70 percent of building subsidence cases are attributed to this phenomenon. This is also the reason why you should plant your tree at least 10 to 15 feet from your house's foundation.  

If you do not have the necessary tools for removing a tree, it is better to seek tree removal services from a business like Heritage Tree Care instead of employing dubious methods that may do you more harm than good.