A tree that worries you rarely gets better on its own. Putting off a check or a job can look like a saving, but it often leads to bigger, more expensive problems.
Branch or tree failure
Dead branches, weak forks or unbalanced parts of the crown can fail, especially in strong wind and storms. When that happens above a house, a car or a path, the damage to property and people can be serious.
Pests and diseases spread
In old or already-stressed trees, pests and diseases can spread faster. Rome’s stone pines are an example, having been hit hard by infestations in recent years. Spotting a problem early means there are still options to consider.
Emergency work costs more
Corrective or emergency work — after a storm, say — generally costs far more than planned maintenance: tight timescales, difficult working conditions, damage to deal with.
Canopy, and value, are lost
Urban trees give shade, absorb CO₂ and make the places we live better. A tree that has to be felled because a problem was left too long is a benefit lost for years.
What to do
If a tree is worrying you, the first step is a stability assessment: finding out whether there really is a problem, and how serious it is, before deciding what to do.
