Author: Stein Tree

Trees are beautiful, provide shade, clean the air, and provide homes for all types of wildlife. In addition, trees can have a high sentimental value to us, having been a fixture in our great-grandparents’ homes or planted to commemorate a special event. In these types of cases, no one wants to consider tree removal. However, sometimes hiring a tree removal company is necessary to prevent damage to your property and for residents’ safety. To help homeowners by providing you with the knowledge to make informed decisions about your trees, Stein answers some of our frequently asked tree removal questions.

Sometimes, you pass a yard and see wide-trunked and towering beauties in a yard that rise a hundred feet over a home or other structure. Though these trees are impressive, are they safe? A certified arborist or other tree care specialist can determine whether a tree is at risk for falling even if no blatant signs exist. The specialist will evaluate the visible signs, like dead branches, fungal growth, dieback, or insect infestation. They will perform other tests, like a resistograph test, to determine if the tree is still viable or if cavities create vulnerability.

A resistograph test is a non-destructive method used to assess the internal condition of trees and timber. The process involves drilling a small hole, measuring resistance, interpreting the graph, and analyzing the results to identify decay, cavities, cracks, and healthy wood areas.

One of the frequent tree removal questions we get is when is the ideal time for removing trees. While tree removal can be done all year, late winter and early spring are ideal times for tree removal. One reason is that most trees will have bare branches, which makes it easier for a tree service company to inspect and remove them. That improved visibility is critical if a tree is near other structures, like a house or power lines.

Homeowners who have to get a tree removed from their yards are often concerned about the stump. Specifically, people are worried about the conditions of their landscape when a tree is removed. Of course, a homeowner can leave the stump in the yard, but many reasons exist for removing them.

Leaving a tree stump in your yard can pose several risks, including creating a tripping hazard, damaging equipment, and allowing root growth. Tree stumps can also attract pests, look unsightly, restrict planting space, and reduce property value. Therefore, removing the stump after tree removal is recommended, especially in a high-traffic area.

Professional tree care companies use different methods to remove the stump. For example, Stein Tree Service uses a stump grinder to grind the tree stump into small chips. After stump grinding, our team can use these chips to fill the hole, or we can haul them away. Either way, we can entirely remove the tree in almost all cases.

Homeowners with small yards or homes close to other homes worry that felling a tree could endanger the property or people nearby. For an inexperienced person, this is a genuine concern. However, a professional should do the job whenever a tree is removed, especially a large one. And in a tight space, having the knowledge and skill to make the precise cuts necessary is even more vital. Stein Tree Service has the equipment and skill to remove trees from any area. In fact, we recently removed one from behind some rowhouses in Wilmington, where the only access was through a small tunnel. We are also insured, so homeowners and specialists have protection if an accident should occur.

Determining whether a tree is at risk for falling or poses a potential hazard requires careful observation and assessment. Several signs indicate a tree’s structural integrity is compromised, making it more susceptible to failure.

One such sign is the absence or scarcity of leaves on the tree. An ordinarily leafy tree that suddenly shows little to no foliage could indicate underlying issues with its health or stability. Discolored leaves, especially if they appear wilted or brown, can also mean stress or disease within the tree.

The condition of the bark can provide valuable insights into a tree’s overall health. If you notice large patches of bark falling off or the bark appearing dry, the tree may suffer from environmental stress, fungal diseases, or insect diseases. As a result, you should reach out to a tree specialist for a comprehensive evaluation of your tree’s health.

If trees are planted in a space that is insufficient for their mature size, they may have to be removed to avoid contact with homes or power lines. Homeowners often ask if we can just cut down trees to fit the space. This practice is called tree topping and is very detrimental to the tree.

One of the dangers of tree topping is weakening of the tree. When you remove the top portion of a tree, you remove the primary source of nutrients and energy. This can leave the tree vulnerable to disease, insect infestation, and other environmental stresses. In addition, the many open wounds created by tree topping provide entry points for pests and pathogens to enter the tree. A certified arborist or tree care professional can advise homeowners of the best action if a tree has outgrown its space.

Stein’s and skilled tree care specialists are committed to excellent tree care and answering your tree removal questions. In addition, our company has liability insurance to protect you and your property. If you have questions about your trees and their proper care, we can help. We will evaluate the trees in your landscape and recommend the best solution, which could include tree removal. On the other hand, your tree may only need careful trimming and pruning or other special care. Contact Stein for a free consultation.

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The short answer is yes. Winter is a great time to contact a professional tree care company like Stein Tree Service for tree removal in Wilmington DE. Removal before or during winter is essential to consider for diseased or dead trees, as the last thing homeowners want is a bad winter storm, knocking a problem tree or branches down onto their homes, vehicles, or other property.

Winterizing trees is about the health of the trees and preventing costly damage. This is because, during this time of year, trees enter into a dormant state. Dormancy in trees is when the tree is alive but not actively growing. During this time, the inner workings of a tree slow down and pause until conditions change to allow for productive growth. As a result, dormant trees are less susceptible to stress and disease.

Removing a diseased or dead tree during winter can also prevent the tree from falling during a winter storm, which can cause costly damage to homes, vehicles, and other property. Of course, such property protection is only one reason tree removal during winter is advisable. Consider other reasons why winter is a great time to call Stein Tree Service for tree removal in Wilmington, DE.

The winter season is a slow season both for professional arborists and for your own family. During winter’s cold days, your family, neighbors, and other pedestrians will likely limit their time outdoors. Less foot and equipment traffic in yards will mean fewer obstacles, allowing small and large tree removal be done more quickly and with less interruption of daily activities.

Additionally, most trees, shrubs, and other flowering plants require reduced maintenance when entering dormancy. Therefore, professional tree services like ours have reduced responsibilities and can offer more competitive prices for tree removal.

Many new property owners assume that the frozen ground can make tree removal hard and near impossible, but quite the opposite is true. Frozen soil and grass create the perfect conditions for tree removal in Wilmington DE. Such conditions make bringing heavier equipment onto a property easier, like cranes that may be necessary for older and larger tree removals, i.e., oak species.

The winter season is also an ideal time to remove trees without causing harm to other plants in the area. When we remove a tree, we can, in most cases, also remove the roots from the soil. During the winter season, the frozen ground makes removing the tree and root system easier without causing damage to other plants.

After the tree is removed, the soil and the area around where the tree was located will recover. The roots of the nearby plants will have more room to grow, and the soil will be able to retain more moisture. As a result, when spring arrives, the grass and other plants in the area will enjoy new growth and thrive without being negatively impacted by the tree removal process.

Do you have a tree that you are worried about? Contact our skilled arborists and tree care specialists at Stein Tree Service for a free inspection. Our skilled team will professionally assess the situation and help you determine whether winter tree removal in Wilmington DE is necessary.

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We all love our trees. From branching maples and red oaks to colorful dogwoods, trees provide myriad benefits and improve the look and feel of a property. However, even the hardiest tree can fall victim to disease and old age, and what once was a beautiful addition to your property may now be a hazardous object. If you have a dead, dying, or dangerously placed tree, you may be wondering about hazardous tree removal in Wilmington, DE, and whether your homeowner’s insurance will pay for the service.

As Delaware and Pennsylvania residents and property owners prepare for winter storms, where vulnerable trees could fall, the worry about those trees may be in the forefront of their minds. In general, most homeowners insurance companies are unwilling to pay to have a dead or dying tree removed from a property unless the tree has already fallen and caused damage. Even then, they may only pay for part of the costs.

Homeowners should avoid waiting for nature to take its course with hazardous trees. Waiting for dangerous trees to fall on their own may save you some removal costs, but waiting is a dangerous game as a falling tree can seriously injure people and pets or cause massive, expensive damage to property that can take a long time to repair. Injuries due to a lack of tree maintenance are worrisome, as you are likely to become legally liable if a tree injures a neighbor or damages their property.

For example, if a homeowner has a tree with an overhanging branch that has been dead for years, but the homeowner has neglected to remove it despite complaints from neighbors, and that branch falls onto the neighbor’s property or injures them, the homeowner can be held liable.

These liabilities and legal disputes can cost people thousands of dollars, even tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the damage, while the damage itself could have been prevented with proper tree care.

Therefore, the best advice for Wilmington and surrounding Delaware residents is to have any suspicious-looking trees properly inspected by a certified arborist as soon as possible. Tree trimming and the removal of dangerous trees are considered by insurance policies to be a part of routine homeowner maintenance. In some cases, our team may be able to trim back or prune away parts of a diseased or overgrown tree to reduce the risk of harm to people or property. In cases where emergency tree removal in Wilmington, DE, is necessary, Stein Tree Service is available 24/7 and responds quickly.

A hazardous tree for property owners is one that is likely to fall or shed branches, causing damage to property or people. This can be due to a number of factors, including:

• Dead or diseased trees: Dead and diseased trees are likelier to fall or shed branches than healthy trees.
• Trees with structural defects: Trees with structural defects, such as cracks in the trunk or limbs or rot in the roots, are also more likely to fail.
• Trees that have been damaged by storms or other events: Trees that have been damaged by storms, fires, or other events may be more likely to fall or drop branches.
• Trees that are leaning or growing too close to buildings, power lines, or other structures: Trees that are leaning or growing too close to buildings, power lines, or other structures pose a hazard and can cause damage.

Here are some specific signs that a tree may be hazardous:

• Dead or diseased branches
• Cracks in the trunk or limbs
• Rot in the roots
• Leaning trunk
• Tree growing too close to buildings, power lines, or other structures
• The tree has been damaged by storms or other events

While these signs are generally what hazardous trees display, each tree and environment is unique. What constitutes a hazard will vary depending on the specific tree and its surroundings. For example, a tree that is healthy and structurally sound may still pose a hazard if that tree is growing too close to a house.

Understanding the risks associated with hazardous trees is crucial for proper tree care and safety on both public and private property. These risks can arise from factors such as unstable tree limbs, fire damage, storm damage, or even tree death due to disease or old age.

Falling tree limbs can pose a range of potential dangers. First, there is the risk of injury or even death to individuals nearby. A falling tree limb can cause severe trauma and even fatalities if branches land on a person. Additionally, falling tree limbs can cause damage to vehicles, structures, and other personal property, resulting in costly repairs or replacements.

Regarding public safety, falling tree limbs can create hazardous conditions. Tree limbs can obstruct roads and sidewalks, potentially causing accidents for pedestrians and road users. In addition, falling tree limbs can also damage power lines, leading to power outages and posing a significant risk of electrical fires.

For property owners adjacent to trees, there is a constant risk of falling tree limbs. Strong winds and storms can weaken tree branches, making them more prone to falling. This can threaten the safety of persons and their personal property, including structures, vehicles, and outdoor amenities.

Homeowners should avoid waiting for nature to take its course with hazardous trees. Waiting for dangerous trees to fall on their own may save you some removal costs, but waiting is a dangerous game as a falling tree can seriously injure people and pets or cause massive, expensive damage to property that can take a long time to repair. Injuries due to a lack of tree maintenance are worrisome, as you are likely to become legally liable if a tree injures a neighbor or damages their property.

For example, if a homeowner has a tree with an overhanging branch that has been dead for years, but the homeowner has neglected to remove it despite complaints from neighbors, and that branch falls onto the neighbor’s property or injures them, the homeowner can be held liable.

These liabilities and legal disputes can cost people thousands of dollars, even tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the damage, while the damage itself could have been prevented with proper tree care.

Diseased and dying trees can have catastrophic impacts should they fall on your property. If you are unsure about the health and well-being of any tree on your property, contact us for an inspection by a certified arborist. Our team is skilled in various tree care services, from the mitigation of hazardous trees via bracing or pruning to the complete removal of dead or dying plant life via tree removal and stump grinding. Our hazardous tree removal services could save you thousands in the event of a need for emergency tree removal.

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