Trees improve the ecology of any property, offering shade, improving air quality and providing habitats for animals and birds. However, maintaining tree health requires casual observation and alertness. Recognizing the early warning signs of tree distress, such as disease or damage, is crucial to preserving their longevity and ensuring the safety of your property.

At West Country Tree Services, we have endeavoured to provide essential information to help homeowners such as yourself to identify when professional tree care is necessary. By understanding common indicators of tree decline, disease and damage you can make informed decisions about when to call in the professionals.

If you notice changes in your tree’s appearance, structure, or have any other concerns, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our expert team at West Country Tree Services. Call us on 01225 345137 or email us at enquiries@westcountrytreeservices.co.uk and we’ll send a qualified arborist to assess your issue.

Safety hazards can come in many forms – sometimes even a small branch can cause a lot of damage. In this case, a tree surgeon may not be needed, and you can attempt to remove the limb yourself. But what if the tree’s larger branches or even the trunk is damaged? Trees that have only recently started to change in angle can be a risk to anything in the area surrounding them. It should be noted that some trees grow at an angle and aren’t perfectly straight up and down.

However, a tree that has started to tilt recently is a strong indication of damaged roots. Check for any cracks, cuts or splits in the trunk and branches of your trees. A weaker tree can be dangerous, a more likely to collapse if its extremities are damaged. Any crack or split indicates a weakness in the tree’s structure and in larger branches or logs this should a sign to call a tree surgeon.

Your own judgement will dictate how serious you think the situation is. If you think the tree poses a risk to your home or property, its wise to get a professional opinion. You may notice large or hazardous branches that are broken or hanging precariously. In this case a qualified member of our team will need to deal with this because they’ll have the best equipment and know-how to remove a tree safely and efficiently.

In the case of severely bending, uprooted or cracked trees it is essential that you call for a professional opinion. Our team will be able to determine if the tree can be saved, removed and raise any other concerns about the tree(s).

The most common disease in any tree is unfortunately in ash trees. All ash trees are under threat from Ash Dieback, a deadly disease caused by the Hymenoscyphus fraxineus fungus. This insidious disease swept through Europe after its discovery in Poland in 1992, reaching Britain in 2012. Since then, its rapid spread has devastated ash populations across the country.

The first signs you’ll notice include wilting, withering and brown/black discolouration of the leaves and leaf stalk. There may also be lesions around dead side shoots. The bark of the wood will be stained, with these stains appearing on the branch or stem lengthways. As the infection progresses the crown of the tree will decline. It’s vital that if you spot these signs on your Ash trees, you call our team at West Country Tree Services.