You hear something running across the roof in the middle of the night and suddenly you are laying there wide awake trying to figure out what the heck that noise was.
Then it happens again the next night.
Then one morning you finally see squirrels jumping from the tree straight onto the roof like they have been doing it for years.
That happens constantly around Spring Hill once branches get too close to the house.
Most People Do Not Notice How Close The Branches Got
It usually happens slowly over time.
The tree grows a little bigger every year. The branches stretch farther over the roof. The shade around the house gets heavier. Then one day squirrels suddenly have an easy path straight onto the house.
A lot of homeowners around Hernando County do not really notice how much bigger the tree has gotten until animals start using it like a bridge to the roof.
Once You Hear It, You Start Noticing Every Little Sound
Scratching near the gutters.
Something running overhead early in the morning.
Branches moving around every time the wind picks up.
A lot of homeowners around Spring Hill end up standing in the driveway staring up at the tree wondering when the branches got so close to the house.
Usually it happened little by little over years.
The Older Oak Trees Around Here Get Huge
Especially around places like Weeki Wachee and Royal Highlands.
Some of these trees have been growing over houses for decades. The top of the tree spreads wider every year until branches are hanging directly over the roof.
That is usually when homeowners start feeling uncomfortable every time storms roll through because everything suddenly feels too close overhead.
Once Squirrels Start Using The Roof, They Keep Coming Back
That is the part homeowners around Spring Hill get frustrated with fast.
At first you hear something once in a while. Then suddenly it becomes an everyday thing.
You hear movement above the bedroom early in the morning. Something runs across the roof while you are watching TV at night. Every little noise outside starts getting your attention.
A lot of homeowners start wondering if the squirrels can get inside the attic once they start using the roof regularly.
A Lot Of Homeowners Around Spring Hill Start Worrying About The Attic Next
That thought hits pretty fast.
You hear enough movement overhead and eventually you start wondering if something already got inside.
A lot of homeowners around Hernando County start listening for noises in the walls or attic after squirrels begin using the roof constantly.
Sometimes people notice scratching near vents. Sometimes it is movement above the ceiling early in the morning. Other times it is just the nonstop noise every night finally getting annoying enough that homeowners start paying much closer attention to the tree overhead.
Usually by that point the branches are hanging much closer to the roof than they used to.
The Branches Usually Feel Too Close Once You Finally Look Up
That happens all the time around Spring Hill.
You walk outside and suddenly realize the branches are practically sitting over the roof now.
Some homeowners around North Weeki Wachee notice branches rubbing against the roof line during windy weather. Others start noticing more leaves and debris collecting in gutters because the tree spread so far over the house.
Usually that is the moment people realize the tree has gotten much larger than they thought.
Storms Around Spring Hill Make Everything Feel Worse
One windy afternoon and now branches are moving all over the roof while squirrels are still running back and forth through the tree.
That is usually when the house stops feeling shaded and starts feeling crowded.
A lot of homeowners around Hernando Beach start paying much closer attention to the branches overhead once storms start pushing everything around near the roof.
The House Usually Feels More Open Once The Branches Get Pulled Back
A lot of homeowners are surprised how different the property feels once some of the heavier branches hanging over the roof get trimmed back.
Less debris falls during storms. The roof gets more sunlight again. Animals stop having such an easy path toward the house.
If squirrels keep running across your roof or branches around your house are hanging way too close overhead, it may be time to trim back trees hanging over your roof before the problem gets worse.