Get matched with top arborists in Cloverdale, CA

Pruning is an effective way to prevent a diseased branch from infecting the rest of the tree. If the infection isn’t caught early enough and the pathogen has spread to the trunk or the majority of the branches though, it is too late to prune off the affected areas and you’ll likely need to remove the tree.

Your neighbor is not in a good position to know if your trees are truly dead or pose any kind of danger. That’s why hiring an arborist or tree service expert can be such an important part of the process. If the trees are still alive and don’t pose any threat, you’re in the clear (but you may want to document and photograph everything in case events turn sour down the road).

But if a tree is visibly dead and near the property line, you should remove it to be safe. If a dead tree falls on a neighbor’s property, they may have grounds to sue for negligence. If any branches on trees have died, it’s a good idea to cut them back for similar reasons.

Finding a reliable arborist starts with researching specialists in your area and checking their licensing and certifications. Use online resources like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to conduct research on each company. Next, contact the arborist and ask the following questions to see whether they are the right fit for your project:

• Do you handle or specialize in dealing with the issue I’m having?

• Are you fully insured?

• Do you have customer references I can call?

• Do you have any third-party certifications?

• What equipment and strategies do you plan to use?

We recommend removing the stump, and grinding is a popular way to do it. You can also dig out small stumps or stumps that have fully decayed instead of grinding them. However, don’t try using acids or fire for killing a tree stump, which is a fire hazard and illegal in many areas.

Leaving the stump alone invites eventual problems, including attracting termites, mold, and fungi.