(Probably) Wait Until Spring for Deadwood Removal in Trees In Indianapolis
The foliage in Indianapolis is beautiful right now! Many tree species on local properties around Indianapolis are in peak color (red maples woo hoo!) and others are already experiencing significant leaf drop—think Buckeye, Honey Locust and River Birch, among others.
Every month of the year we get calls for hazardous deadwood removal, and right now I’m turning many of those down (and encouraging them to wait)! While it is entirely possible for a skilled arborist to successfully remove deadwood on a bare tree, it is vastly more time-consuming. It requires accessing the majority of the canopy just to feel the branches, test for pliability, and determine what’s truly dead versus what’s just dormant (beyond the most obvious giveaways like peeling bark or significant fungus).
Do I NEED to wait until Spring to remove deadwood?
There are definitely exceptional circumstances where it’s still worth doing before spring, mainly guided by the risk level and how targeted the approach can be. Earlier today I was asked to quote the removal of a large dead oak branch with a lot of orange fungus on it directly over a house. This request for tree work was specific, clear, easily identified and mitigates the risk significantly. I have no problem quoting similar work right now. On the other hand, this morning we arrived at a job that was bid a month ago and the honey locust which needed deadwood removal over a deck had lost 90% of its leaves. Moreover, my video from the estimate only briefly panned over that tree (much to my chagrin). None of the deadwood looked big enough to damage her deck, and we agreed that she would rather get a good outcome in the Spring when we could accurately identify everything over the deck.
The main difference between these two scenarios was the risk level and the willingness of the client to sacrifice for the outcome. Client 1 was confident that risk mitigation was worth it and that we could get a good outcome now. Client 2 was not confident that risk mitigation was worth the $600 line item if it couldn’t guarantee a comprehensive outcome. I agreed with her and eliminated it from the contract at no cost.
As you make your own decisions consider the targets- is a cluster of heavy deadwood looming directly over where you park your cars, or hanging above a zone where lots of young kids play every day? If so, it might be good to proceed now - so what if a couple pieces get missed in the rest of the canopy and an arborist needs to return later to finish off the rest. If the targets are less significant and your objective covers the totality of a canopy it might be better to wait.
Many species can hold on to deadwood for years, far longer than expected. If you feel that you can wait, you are almost certainly going to get a better, more thorough outcome when the tree is in full leaf and all the deadwood stands out in stark contrast. Depending on the species and the targets below, I have increasingly begun to recommend that clients wait until full leaf-out next May. It’s about that time where it might make sense for you, too.
3 tips for homeowners who feel they can’t wait:
If you decide it’s truly important to move forward:
Take your own video right now. Before your tree loses another leaf, pull out your phone and take a thorough video. Make sure you capture multiple angles demonstrating where the deadwood is and highlight the specific pieces that concern you most. I try and point out each piece specifically with my pointer finger in the frame. Have a specific number of pieces that are important to you so you can make sure that the quotes you receive name that minimum number, name that they will utilize your video, and verify the cuts at the end with their own video.
Test your arborist's diligence. When a company comes out to give you a quote, don't tell them you already have a video! See if they take their own photos or video. If they don't, ask yourself: How are they going to communicate what needs to be cut accurately to their team when the tree has zero leaves in a few weeks?
Let’s assume they do their due diligence and your estimator takes a great, comprehensive video. Your next step is to ask them how they intend to access the tree. If the deadwood is high up at the tips or far out laterally, the company either needs to have a tall enough spider lift or highly skilled climbers. If climbers, they need to be professionals with knowledge of the wood strength of different species and an understanding of exactly how far out they can safely navigate on a given tree. (Obviously, the skill level and equipment requirements drop significantly if you're dealing with just a few low-lying pieces right off the main stem). It’s an immediate no-go if they only know how to climb with spikes (which should only be used for removals). There are non-invasive techniques of ascent which should always be applied when pruning.
Ultimately, you want a company that will accurately map out the deadwood before leaf drop, possess the technical skills to work out to the extremities safely, and have the professional integrity to tell you honestly whether you're better off waiting until next May for a better outcome.
