Month: December 2025

Most homeowners appreciate the shade and character that mature trees bring to their property, but even a beautiful tree can turn into a safety concern if its health starts to decline. The tricky part is that trees rarely fail without sending a few early signals first. These signs can be easy to miss, especially when the tree still looks strong from a distance. Learning to spot small changes can help you address problems before they become serious hazards.

Below are the subtle indicators that a tree may be becoming a liability, along with the New Jersey specific conditions that can speed up the decline.

Changes at the Base: Cracks, Splits, and Soft Spots

The lower trunk is one of the best places to look for hidden trouble. Cracks, seams, or cavities at the base are all signs that the tree may be losing structural strength. Sometimes these openings are caused by insects or past storm damage. Other times they appear as the tree ages.

In New Jersey, winter temperatures make these issues worse. Water enters small cracks, then expands when the weather freezes, widening the opening every time the temperature rises and falls again. Over the course of a few seasons, what was once a small surface wound can become a serious weak point.

Movement Around the Root Plate

A tree that is starting to loosen in the soil often gives itself away at ground level. Look for raised soil, cracked earth, or exposed roots on one side of the trunk. These changes usually happen after heavy rain or long stretches of saturated ground. North Jersey often sees these conditions during spring storms and after tropical systems push through.

Wet soil reduces stability and makes it harder for roots to hold their grip. Even a large, mature tree can begin to shift if the soil stays saturated for too long.

A Lean That Looks Different from Before

Not all leaning trees are dangerous, but a lean that is new or getting worse is something you should take seriously. A sudden tilt often points to root failure or soil movement. A gradual lean can be just as concerning because it means the tree is relying less on its roots and more on its weakened trunk for support.

In our region, strong winds from nor’easters and summer storms put extra stress on any tree that is not solidly anchored. A leaning tree might stand on a calm day, then fail completely when the next windstorm arrives.

Dieback and Thinning in the Canopy

Branches that stop producing leaves, tips that dry out, or a thinning canopy are all signs that the tree is struggling. This usually means something is happening internally, either with the roots, the trunk, or the flow of nutrients. Tree diseases, insects, and old age can all cause dieback, but so can environmental stress.

North Jersey winters are tough on weakened branches. Heavy snow and ice put significant weight on limbs that can barely support themselves, increasing the chance of breakage.

Fungal Growth That Signals Internal Rot

If you notice mushrooms or bracket fungi growing on the trunk or near the base, the tree may be rotting on the inside. These fungal growths feed on decaying wood. By the time they appear, internal breakdown has usually been happening for a while.

While not every fungus means a tree needs to be removed immediately, it is a clear sign that it should be evaluated by a professional.

How New Jersey Weather Makes Problems Progress Faster

Trees in Northern New Jersey deal with conditions that can speed up decline. A few examples include:

• Soil that stays saturated for long periods, weakening root systems
• Freeze and thaw cycles that widen cracks and split bark
• Dense, heavy snow that weighs down aging limbs
• Strong winds that push against compromised trunks and roots

Because these factors stack up throughout the year, even small warning signs deserve attention.

When a Professional Assessment Is the Right Move

If something about a tree does not look right, trust that instinct. Many early warning signs are easy to overlook unless you work with trees every day. A licensed New Jersey tree expert can examine the structure of the tree, look for internal decay, and determine whether pruning, cabling, or removal is the safest option.

With state requirements now in place for licensing and insurance, hiring a qualified team also ensures you stay compliant with local regulations.

Protect Your Property Before a Storm Forces the Issue

A tree that is becoming a liability does not always need to come down right away. Sometimes targeted trimming or stabilization can extend its life safely. The key is catching problems before a storm or winter event makes them worse.

Big Foot Tree Service provides professional inspections, safe removals, and expert trimming across Northern New Jersey. If you are unsure about the safety of a tree or want peace of mind before the next storm season, our team is ready to help.

Call 973-885-8000 for a FREE estimate and a licensed inspection.

The post How to Know When a Tree Is Becoming a Liability on Your Property appeared first on Big Foot Tree Service.

This post first appeared on https://www.bigfoottreeservice.com

So you choose to do a live Christmas tree. I mean why cut down a tree when you don’t have too, right? And now that Christmas is over you are pondering what to do with that live tree sitting in your living room. Well, if you are thinking about planting it in your yard, you might want to think again.

As an early tree hugger, I planted a Christmas tree or two in my yard as an adolescent, so I understand the appeal. But there is actually a lot to consider and as good stewards of the trees, we have to highlight some of the more negative considerations below.

1. The tree can’t go right back outside after Christmas. Before you purchased your lovely Christmas tree it was at the nursery, sitting outside in the cold. The tree, like it always did, sensed the season and went dormant. Once you bring the tree inside a warm house for more than a week, it thinks it is spring. Putting the tree back outside in the cold of the winter can shock it and possibly kill it.
2. Typical Christmas tree varieties don’t make good yard trees. Most Christmas trees, given the opportunity to grow to their full potential, will grow big and wide and full, taking up an enormous amount of space in your yard. Also, if you are open to planting a large evergreen, the smaller and shorter-lived Christmas tree is going to be taking up a spot where a long lived evergreen could be planted and grow for 100’s of years, making a real impact on our urban canopy.
3. The decorative pruning done to maintain a Christmas tree shape effects the long-term health of the tree. Christmas trees, even live ones, are often sheared on the side and on the top to give them a more attractive shape. Although this is good for ornament hanging it is bad for the long-term health of the tree. Trees sometimes never return to a good strong healthy structure after this type of pruning.
4. It will probably need to be cut down sometime in the not-too-distant future. We here at Urban Forest Pro cut down a lot of these ill-fated Christmas trees very year. Once they have outgrown their space or become diseased and deformed you will need to hire an arborist for a minimum of $350 for the tree removal plus stump grinding to come and take it away.

Because we understand that you may have a young tree hugger at home, just like my poor mother and her backyard Christmas tree farm did, we offer you are few alternatives:

• Recycle this year’s Christmas tree but next year buy a tree from a reputable nursery and plant it tree outdoors, in your yard, in honor of Christmas. You can even decorate it if you want.
• Leave your live Christmas tree in the pot and if it doesn’t die of shock (keeping it on a porch for winter helps) save it to bring inside as your Christmas tree for next year. This tree will never be able to be planted permanently but you could get a few years out of it.

Regardless of which path you choose, we understand your desire to be kind to the live trees around you. It’s what we do every day and why we love our work. If you have any questions at all, even about the live Christmas tree you’ve now got sitting in your living room, feel free to call us here at 503-226-7143.

This post first appeared on https://www.urbanforestprofessionals.com

There are plenty of environmental factors that threaten our trees, but people are often the biggest threat. One of the ways we inadvertently compromise our trees’ health is when we are mowing or edging our lawns.

Referred to as mower blight, this is when homeowners bump a tree with a lawnmower or whip the trunk with an edger. Over time, the tree bark is further damaged, which makes it difficult for the tree to move nutrients to the roots and for the roots to transport water to the rest of the tree.

Trees are most vulnerable to lawnmower damage in the spring and fall when bark is most prone to “slip.” That said, damage can happen anytime, as long people are careless in their yard work.

This easily preventable problem happens primarily due to not understanding how simple mistakes in routine lawn care can have major long-term repercussions on tree health. A little nick here and there can add up to big problems.

Placing mulch at the base of your trees is not only healthy for your tree and visually appealing, but it can act as a visual mark for you to stop before you get too close to the tree trunk with your mower. Plus, it will help avoid weed problems around your trees which won’t necessitate the damage risk of a weed trimmer.

If you still have to trim stray grass or weeds close to a tree, use manual handheld clippers and save the bigger weed trimmer for areas that are a safe distance away from trees and shrubs.

Trees play an important role in the aesthetic appeal, and consequently monetary value, of our property. That’s why it is so vital we care for and nurture them properly. Some basic knowledge of tree care can go a long way to ensuring a beautiful and healthy landscape.

This post first appeared on https://www.urbanforestprofessionals.com