How do you know that it is necessary to remove your tree?

Before you decide to walk into your garden and chop down your tree with an ax or chainsaw, you should think about whether you might be able to bring it back to life. Although this is somewhat of a dying art, there are a few things you can check for in order to decide what course of action to take with your tree.

Should your tree begins to lose its leaves it will not be healthy enough to take in energy via photosynthesis, as the leaves are where this activity occurs. Therefore this simple symptom will help to exacerbate the situation and will make matters worse for the tree as it ultimately restricts its energy supply. This, in turn, will make the tree branches weak, brittle and dry. Should you notice this or any of the other symptoms mentioned then it can be deduced that you will need to rectify things with some form of treatment. The longer you leave your sick tree without treatment, the harder it may be to treat it.

If you have a fruit tree, such as an apple, orange or plum tree, then if they don't have fruit on them then it can indicate a problem. This is because trees often flower and then begin to bear fruit once annually, so if they don't it indicates a change. Unbalanced PH levels in the soil could be an obvious problem or a lack of nutrients being absorbed by the roots. Alternatively, it could be due to a lack of water, which could be solved easily by ensuring that you water it regularly. This is an important factor when considering the health of your fruit tree.

If the foliage around a tree starts to die off then this suggests that the soil isn't of a good enough quality to sustain the tree. In fact, this can be one of the first signs that the tree isn't getting enough biological support from the soil. This is because if a small plant cannot survive then it means there are deficiencies that could cause the tree to die also. If you notice this occurring to your tree then you'll want to water it some more and maybe add fertilizer. Make sure you check up on your tree to check that it is making improvements.

A sign that a problem has arisen in the roots or soil is the unlevel nature of the tree. In actual fact, it will indicate that the placement of the roots is not sufficient to support the tree and that the soil is not providing the roots with the right nutrients. Subsidence may also be caused by flooding or excessive rain, where big amounts of water soaking into the soil mean that the weight of the tree cannot be duly supported. 

Spring is perhaps one of the more beautiful times of the year as you can see glorious blossoms, so if you notice your tree has failed to flower, it should suggest something is amiss. Not only will your garden be deprived of beauty but it may also indicate that the tree is unhealthy and needs diagnosing. This is because flowering is part of the process for certain species, so if you are expecting blooms yet it won't flower then it could need attention. It is best to act as soon as you notice something is wrong but treatment doesn't necessarily have to be complicated and you'll have a couple of options; such as adding extra fertilizer or making sure you water it regularly.

By following the guidelines above you should know whether you should cut down your tree or whether a qualified tree surgeon could help.