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In some states and municipalities, you will need a permit to remove a tree on your property. In many cases where permits are required, a tree must reach a maximum height before a permit is required to remove it. You can either ask your local building department or a tree removal professional if you’ll need a permit. If you do, you can expect to pay between $50 and $150 for the permit alone. Your tree removal company should pull the permit for you and include the permit fee in your total.

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.

Depending on the severity of the damage, a tree might continue healing for years after a split or a break. Saplings can usually bounce back in the spring in one or two seasons, but larger trees might take a few years to regain their former strength. If your tree is showing strong growth and is not dropping limbs, you can consider it healed after the first two seasons.

Tree experts don’t advise against digging through tree roots, but instead encourage caution and consultation with a local arborist to make sure you don’t damage the tree’s structure or interrupt its water or nutrient intake. An arborist can recommend specific practices when digging and help prune the roots or dig a trench for utilities with a tool that can remove soil without touching the tree’s roots.