Research shows that homes with trees have as much as 3.5% to 15% more value. This is because many buyers prefer homes with trees for privacy and aesthetic appeal.

If you have a tree on your property, you may be worried about tree health. This is very important, especially when we are discussing something like a dead branch.

Tree maintenance is a critical part of keeping your trees healthy. This will minimize your costs in the future by preserving the tree as a whole.

Keep reading to find out how to spot a dead branch and why it is important.

Caring For Trees: Dead Branches 101

A lot of tree varieties require pruning, which involves cutting branches back. Doing this allows the tree to preserve its energy and continue growing.

Dead branches occur for a variety of reasons depending on the situation. Something may have happened to that branch, cutting off the support it needed.

Or it may not have been pruned and lacked the nutrients it needed. The problem with dead branches is that healthy trees still try to maintain them.

The tree will continue to lose vital nutrients by sending it to the dead branches. New growth can come from dead branches, but it is not worthwhile.

It is much more efficient to hire a company like Dallas Tree Service to help with this problem.

Signs a Tree Branch Is Dead

Tree health is something you have to consider as a homeowner with trees on your property. They can become very expensive if they aren’t maintained.

When a branch has died, there are certain things you can look for. Here are some examples of how you can examine your tree for any issues.

Fungal Growth

Depending on the situation, a tree branch may have things growing on it. This isn’t always a bad sign, but you should examine the growth.

Something like turkey tail fungus is an obvious problem. This is a type of fungus that grows on dead trees and stumps, indicating that the branch is dead.

Mushroom growth could also reveal that the branch has been dead for some time. You can peel back some of the bark to see if there is any sign of decay.

Pests

Your tree is home to a variety of small creatures that live and eat there. But there are certain insects that you want to keep an eye out for when it comes to a dead branch.

If a branch is dead, you may find a large number of insect feces around the tree. This may be around the trunk or underneath the dead branch.

You should keep an eye out for things like giant bark aphids and leaf-cutting bees. You may want to look into local pests to know exactly what to look for.

A large number of pests indicates that the tree branch is dead and decaying. This attracts insect life as they feed on this decay.

Less Activity

There are a few very simple ways to find a dead branch on your tree. One way to do this is to look for a branch that is not showing any activity.

A dead branch will not have new buds or new leaves. In fact, it may have twigs and dead leaves that are falling off of it.

These kinds of branches may also have a more grayish color than the rest of the tree.

Dry Bark

A healthy branch is going to be quite flexible and green. On the other hand, a dead branch is going to become brittle and easy to break off.

The bark will be very dry and brittle, not green and moist. This is a clear indicator that the branch has died and needs to be removed.

Why Remove Dead Branches?

When you have a tree on your property, you may be worried about dead branches. If you notice any dead branches, this is something you need to address as soon as possible.

Here are some examples of why this is important.

Beauty

A dead branch takes away from the overall look of a healthy tree. Dead branches are bare and often have a different color and a dried-up appearance.

This can stick out, especially when your tree is in bloom.

Damage Risks

Dead branches no longer have support from the tree. This makes them a risk since they could fall on someone or on something on your property.

It is your responsibility as the homeowner to make sure the tree is not a risk.

Environmental Risks

As we discussed above, dead branches accumulate growth and pests. This is not only bad for the tree branch, but it is also bad for the entire tree.

If left alone for too long, this could result in the entire tree dying. You also risk that tree spreading disease to any other trees that are nearby.

Insects will also be attracted to the rest of your property if they are attracted to that tree. This could cause an infestation where many landscaping features are damaged.

Dead Branch: Understanding Tree Health Basics

As a homeowner, you may have a tree on your property you need to take care of. One part of tree maintenance is locating a dead branch on the tree.

A dead branch has died and no longer provides any use to the tree. That is why it is important that it is removed before it causes further damage.

Are you interested in tree trimming services in Dallas, Fort Worth? Contact us today at Green Pine Tree Service to book an appointment.

21% of Plano, Texas is covered in trees. That number has been growing since the city adopted an Urban Forest Management Plan in 2018.

Keeping these trees in check requires services such as pruning, trimming, cutting, and felling. It’s a necessity in every part of the city but becomes more personal when it reaches your backyard.

Read on for three ways to choose the best tree service in Plano.

1. Check Their Credibility

Check the service’s website for the proper credentials and licensure. They should be accredited by the Better Business Bureau. You can also check if they’re members of trade associations such as the Tree Care Industry Association or the International Society of Arboriculture.

Look at how long the tree service has been in business. Positive reviews and references confirm that they’ve developed a positive reputation over that time.

Going on word of mouth alone isn’t as effective as meeting with them in person. Schedule an appointment to meet in person.

They shouldn’t hesitate to answer any questions you have, especially when you request to see their certificates of insurance. At a minimum, they should have liability and worker’s compensation. It’s a necessary precaution because tree workers have 15 times the fatality rate and three times the nonfatal rate of all other industries.

2. Look Into Their Services and Staff

Check the tree service’s website for a full list of their staff. It should include at least one or more certified arborists with the proper credentials. Ask about what tools they have and whether they’re OSHA certified.

They can help you understand the full range of services they offer and which ones would be best for you. For instance, tree trimming and pruning sound the same but are used in different situations.

3. Get Quotes

If you want to get an idea of the average cost of tree service in Plano, get quotes from two or three companies and compare them. Step away from outrageously high figures. Low ones are a warning sign of inexperience and unprofessionalism.

Consider what’s included in each company’s quote. Felling is the quickest form of tree removal but can damage your yard. Cutting it into smaller sections takes more time and costs more but causes less damage. This may make it a better value for your money.

Never commit to paying for the service until you’re satisfied with the work. Avoid paying upfront unless you want them to complete a tree cutting but never return to get the stump removed.

Where to Get Tree Service in Plano

Plano is a city full of trees that need managing, and finding the right professionals to do it can prevent emergencies down the line.

Do research to find out if they’re certified and have a positive reputation. Look at their staff’s credentials and see if they can perform the services you need. Get quotes from a variety of sources and don’t pay until you know you’ve found reliable professionals.

Greenpine Tree Service has a staff of trained arborists that maintain and shape trees throughout the DFW area. Contact us for tree service in Plano today.

According to the EPA, shade from trees can reduce surface and air temperatures by 20 to 45°F, helping reduce your reliance on air conditioning at home and work. As such, they play a huge role in reducing carbon emissions and combating global warming.

Trees also improve air and water quality in their immediate environment and greatly enhance the aesthetics of your property. Thanks to the diversity of trees, you can choose from eight different tree shapes to suit your landscaping and improve your green spaces.

Keep reading for some tips on how to select trees by shape.

Pyramidal Trees

As the name suggests, these trees have a broad base and narrow top, like a classic Christmas tree. The bald cypress, native to Texas, is a great example of a pyramidal tree that can grow up to 80 ft. tall.

Plant them where they have plenty of room to spread out for a gorgeous display of eye-catching fall colors and summer greenery.

Other examples of pyramid-shaped trees include blue spruce, linden, and American holly.

Open-Head Irregular Trees

These trees create wonderful shade thanks to their irregular, random branching habit. The best-known ones are silver maple, hickory, and buckeye.

Horizontal Spreading Trees

These massive, spreading trees have branches that protrude horizontally up the tree trunk. If you’re growing new trees, remember that these specimens need plenty of room to spread out and are best suited to very large gardens.

Eastern red cedars, red and white oaks, and witch hazel are horizontally spreading trees.

Fastigiate Tree Shapes

Fastigiate tree branches are almost parallel to the main stem.

They have multiple trunks, making them perfect for creating a privacy screen or sound buffer in your yard, especially if you choose an evergreen species like columnar eastern white pine.

Columnar Trees

Columnar trees have a similar shape to fastigiate trees. Their branches are uniform in shape and spacing, giving them a neat appearance.

As such, this is a good tree shape for landscaping in formal gardens. Red maples, quaking aspen, sugar maples, and Lombardy poplars are columnar trees.

Weeping Trees

The graceful dome shape of these trees helps to soften the look of any yard. They’re excellent ornamental specimens, with branches that can swoop to the ground.

Brich, hemlock, black willow, and katsura are all weeping trees.

Globe-Shaped Trees

These round-topped trees make a great focal point in your yard thanks to their evenly shaped rounded top. Black maple, redbud, flowering dogwood, and hackberry are all types of globe-shaped trees.

Vase-Shaped Trees

Boxelder and striped ample are examples of vase-shaped trees. Their branches grow sharply upward, making these trees ideal for sidewalks, as they don’t obstruct the view for drivers and allow pedestrians to pass unhindered.

Enjoy the Benefits of Trees

Regardless of the tree shapes you choose for your yard, they must receive regular maintenance and care to stay at their best. We can assist with arborist assessments, tree removal, tree felling, pruning, bracing, and stump grinding.

Get in touch for assistance with keeping your trees in great shape all year.