Why Is My Tree Dead and What Should I Do About It in Spring Hill?

You noticed it a few weeks ago. Maybe it was a section of the tree that stopped leafing out. Maybe bark started falling off or you spotted a big dead limb hanging over your yard. Whatever tipped you off, you are now standing in your yard looking at a tree that does not look right and wondering what to do about it.

Dead and declining trees are one of the most common calls we get from Spring Hill homeowners. Florida’s heat, storms and soil conditions are tough on trees and even healthy ones can turn fast after a bad hurricane season or a stretch of dry weather.

Here is what you need to know.

How Do You Know If a Tree Is Dead or Just Stressed?

A stressed tree can sometimes recover. A dead tree cannot. The problem is they can look similar from the ground and it is not always obvious which one you are dealing with.

Signs a tree may be dead or beyond saving include large sections of the canopy with no leaves during growing season, bark that is falling off in chunks and exposing soft or rotting wood underneath, major limbs that are brittle and snap easily, cracks or splits forming where large limbs meet the trunk, and fungal growth like mushrooms forming at the base of the tree.

If you are seeing more than one of these things on the same tree, it is time to take it seriously.

Why Dead Trees Are a Problem in Spring Hill

A dead tree does not just look bad. It becomes a hazard. Once a tree dies the wood starts to dry out and weaken. Limbs become unpredictable. A storm that a healthy tree would handle without any trouble can send a dead limb through a roof, onto a car or into a fence line.

Spring Hill gets hit hard during storm season. If you have a dead or declining tree anywhere near your house, your pool cage, your fence or your driveway, you do not want to find out the hard way what happens when the next big wind comes through.

What To Do If You Think Your Tree Is Dead

Do not wait on this one. Get someone out to look at it. A dead tree that comes down on its own terms is always going to be more expensive and more damaging than one that gets removed on your schedule.

Spring Hill Tree Specialists handles dead and hazardous tree removal throughout Hernando County. We come out, take a look at what you have got and give you a straight answer on what needs to happen. If the tree needs to come down we will tell you what it takes and what it costs. No runaround.

We also handle tree trimming for trees that are declining in spots but not fully gone, and stump grinding once the tree is down so you are not left with a stump sitting in your yard.

If you have been putting off dealing with a problem tree, now is a good time to get it handled before storm season picks up. You can read more about tree services in your area on our Spring Hill tree service page.

We have also covered why trees drop limbs in Spring Hill and how to get your trees ready for hurricane season if you want more information on keeping your property safe.

Contact Spring Hill Tree Specialists for a free estimate. We serve all of Spring Hill and surrounding Hernando County.