If you don’t take the appropriate action quickly, a dead tree can be a safety hazard to your family and your property. Tree service specialists say it’s important for homeowners to learn how to recognize the symptoms of a dead or dying tree to avoid structural and safety risks in the future.

Here are four tree service tips on how to spot a dead spruce:

• Smooth Trunk: A tree’s bark dies and regenerates based on its natural seasonal cycle. When the bark starts to flake or diminishes in some areas of the trunk, you’re probably dealing with a tree that’s nearing its death.

• Excessive Leaf Fallout: A noticeable amount of leaf and needle fall out in the middle of spring or summer is another sign of a dead tree. This is often caused by severe trunk or root issues that prevent the delivery of essential nutrients to the branches.

• Leaning to One Direction: Root problems often caused by excavation and mineral deficiency can cause the tree to lean toward one direction. According to tree service experts, this symptom can cause structural damage to your home or nearby power lines. It’s best that you call for help immediately to avoid experiencing more devastating problems.

• Large Fungus: Large fungus growth that crowds around the trunk of a tree is a sign of severe internal decay. At this point, there’s no way to save the tree and the only thing left to do is to cut it down to avoid the disease from spreading throughout your property.

Tree service providers urge you to act fast once you notice signs of a dead tree. If you have one in your property, call Alton Tree Services at (860) 236-8027. They offer fast and dependable tree removal services for clients in and around the West Hartford, CT, area. You may also visit their website to learn about their storm damage clean up services.