Leaning and damaged tree removal in Lake Charles, LA
Not every tree the 2020 storms hurt fell down. Here's how to tell whether a leaning or damaged tree is a risk, and how crews take one down.
A damaged tree becomes a hazard when it's likely to fail and has something to hit: a bedroom, a parked truck, the carport, a swing set or the house next door. Expect more planning and a slower pace than an ordinary takedown. A trunk that's cracked or partly rotten can't be trusted to hold a climber's rope the way solid wood can, and a tree under tension from a lean can move in ways a crew has to anticipate.
Signs a tree should be looked at
- A lean that appeared after a storm, or keeps increasing
- Roots lifting or soil mounding on the side away from the lean
- A broken top, with new sprouts bunched below the break
- Cracks running down the trunk, or a split at a fork
- Cavities, conks or soft wood near the base
- Dead limbs that broke but stayed hung in the crown
Is an old lean safe?
Sometimes. A tree that grew at an angle toward the light over decades has built its wood to carry that lean. A tree that tipped in a storm is different: roots on one side may have torn, and the soil may never have firmed up. The LSU AgCenter notes that shallow roots in saturated soil are a leading reason trees go over in high winds, and Lake Charles averages close to 60 inches of rain a year. If you can't tell which kind of lean you have, have a licensed arborist look.
Which trees worry arborists most here?
In the hurricane surveys the AgCenter cites, the poorest wind performers included both water and laurel oaks, along with pecan, tallow and Bradford pear, and laurel oak shed branches more than most. Older, larger trees are stiffer and break more easily, and taller trees catch stronger winds. The AgCenter also warns that a tree that's alive isn't necessarily sound, so an untrained eye can easily misjudge one.
How are damaged trees taken down?
Climbing a cracked or rotten trunk is risky, so many crews rely on a bucket truck instead, or set up a crane to lift pieces off a tree that's tipped over the roof. Expect a bigger cordoned-off area and shorter cuts. Before you agree to removal, it's fair to ask whether pruning could make the tree safe enough to keep.
Pricing comes from the tree company, after someone has looked at the tree, what it could land on and how equipment can get to it. We don't quote prices, and a figure given over the phone without a visit is only a ballpark.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
A tree has leaned since Hurricane Laura but hasn't fallen. Is it safe?
Not necessarily. Storm-tipped trees can have torn roots on one side. Have a Louisiana-licensed arborist check the root plate and trunk before the next storm season.
Who can tell me whether a tree is dangerous?
An arborist with a Louisiana license. Most tree companies employ at least one, and an independent arborist can give a second look if you want one.
Related services
More background: Lake Charles tree removal guide.
A pine leaning since Laura, a limb over the carport, or stumps the city won't haul?
Call and get connected with a Louisiana-licensed tree service that works in Calcasieu Parish.