How can I tell when a tree is dead?

• <div><p>It’s not always easy to tell when a tree is dying, although signs like dropping branches and brittle bark can sometimes offer clues. It can also be difficult to know whether a tree is <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/tree-dead-or-dormant.htm">dead or dormant</a>, especially if it’s a deciduous tree. You’ll want to wait until a growth season to get a good idea of a tree’s health. When in doubt, contact an arborist for a consultation.</p></div>

Will the power company or city top my trees?

• <div><p>Your local government is usually in charge of pruning trees on public property, and the power company is responsible for <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/if-tree-falls-power-line-who-responsible.htm">trees near power lines</a> (even if they’re on your property). Whether or not they top these trees depends on their approach to pruning. You won’t be able to do much to control this, but you can contact them to find out more about their pruning process.</p></div>

Get matched with top arborists in Watertown, SD

Q: When do you need to remove branches from a diseased tree?

• <div><p>Pruning is an effective way to prevent a diseased branch from infecting the rest of the tree. If the infection isn&rsquo;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&rsquo;ll likely need to remove the tree.</p></div>

Q: How can I tell when a tree is dead?

• <div><p>It&rsquo;s not always easy to tell when a tree is dying, although signs like dropping branches and brittle bark can sometimes offer clues. It can also be difficult to know whether a tree is <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/tree-dead-or-dormant.htm">dead or dormant</a>, especially if it&rsquo;s a deciduous tree. You&rsquo;ll want to wait until a growth season to get a good idea of a tree&rsquo;s health. When in doubt, contact an arborist for a consultation.</p></div>

Q: Who is responsible for tree branches over property lines?

• <div><p>If tree branches cross well into your property line, in many cases, these branches become part of your property, and you can trim them up until your neighbor&rsquo;s property line. However, this issue will vary based on local ordinances, so you should do your research before making any decisions. Better yet, speak with your neighbor about how to handle any tree issues. </p><p>If you don&rsquo;t mind the branches, you can leave them be, but if they&rsquo;re becoming a hazard, it&rsquo;s definitely worth having a conversation.</p></div>

Q: What’s the best way to control a tree’s height?

• <div><p>The best way is to start controlling tree height long before it grows too large, via careful pruning through the years. But that&rsquo;s not always possible. If a tree has become too high or too large, use selective pruning to remove the most troublesome branches, one by one, without topping the tree. Gently shaping a tree like this can, over time, correct problems. You can also find growth inhibitors to spray on a tree to stop it from growing too rapidly, but use these sparingly if at all.</p></div>

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Verified Reviews for Arboricultural Service pros in Watertown, SD

*The Angi rating for Arboricultural Service companies in Watertown, SD is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Arboricultural Service needs.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Arboricultural Service companies in Watertown, SD is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Arboricultural Service needs.

Last update on May 31, 2026

Reviewed in May 2026
Clay and pheonyx came out for a product consultation. They designed our dream home and we are so excited for not just siding, but windows, roof, and gutters as well. We welcomed them to our family and in return, they welcomed us to the dabella family. We are so excited for the end result.
DaBella - Sioux Falls (Siding)
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Reviewed in February 2026
Miguel was excellent. Checked everything inside and out. Explained how termites work and what to look for.
Cummings Termite & Pest Control
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Reviewed in October 2025
We hired Lindner Lawn Care and Home Improvement to construct a new porch/steps on the rear of our home. We are very pleased with the craftsmanship put into our project. Owner/Operator Nolan Lindner did an outstanding job from start to finish. We have a few other projects for next spring and...
Lindner Lawn and Home Improvement
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Reviewed in August 2025
greta work and customer service, excellent work done by roofing and sising crews. Couldnt ask for better work quality. Highly recomended.
Craig Johnson Contracting, LLC
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Reviewed in June 2024
This was a most pleasant experience! Workers were polite, kind, informative and the work was done very efficiently and done extremely well. The windows look beautiful and surpassed our expectations! Thank you so much, we would 100% recommend this company and Stacy, Rustee’s team!!
Renewal by Andersen Lake Superior Region
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Reviewed in July 2023
Logan did a great job. He is so great at what he does. I highly recommend him.
South Central Solutions LLC
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Reviewed in June 2023
They did a great job for us! Very prompt, great communication, very respectful of our home. Would definitely hire them again!
Dakota Hills Excavating, LLC
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Reviewed in July 2022
Adam and his team are very hard workers. There were a few issues that surfaced throughout the process and Adam address all in a professional manner. Adam offered to deliver more rock that I requested, Adam gave me, a disabled Veteran, a 10% military discount, he saved me money by showing me how...
Mertz Fencing
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Reviewed in October 2021
They were so detailed about everything. We have a very large deck so it was a lot of work. But they were so precise and worked so hard. We would hire them again in a heart beat.
BNB Cleaning & Painting Services
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Reviewed in April 2021
Jessie did a great job on our windows and his price was really reasonable. He was on time and very pleasant. Definitely recommend.
JC's Landscaping
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Find Arborists in Watertown

R&N Land Clearing

4.0(

)

Tree RemovalTree Removal - For BusinessTree Stump - Remove+1 more

Serving Watertown, SD and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2024

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"Large amount of work was needed, and job is about 80% complete. Hard workers that want to do a great job. Very courteous and professional when discussing details. They were willing to rent special equipment to get the work finished."

Response time6 hrs

Tree RemovalTree Removal - For BusinessTree Stump - Remove+3 more

Serving Watertown, SD and surrounding areas

In business since 2016

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"They did a very good professional job. I was very satisfied with them. They showed up when they said they would and completed the job to my satisfaction."

Response time11 hrs

Recommended by88%of homeowners

Tree RemovalTree Removal - For BusinessTree Stump - Remove+3 more

Serving Watertown, SD and surrounding areas

In business since 2022

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"Removed eight stumps and hauled them away. Took extra time to clean up and backfill holes. Carter was great to work with on scheduling the project. He showed up when he said he would and make quick work of a large project at a reasonable price. Would highly recommend!"

Response time20 mins

Recommended by100%of homeowners

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Manny's Handyman Service

4.5(

)

Tree RemovalTree Trimming

Serving Watertown, SD and surrounding areas

In business since 1995

Free estimates

"He was timely, personable, and did a good job."

Response time2 days

Recommended by100%of homeowners

Tree RemovalTree Removal - For BusinessTree Stump - Remove+5 more

Serving Watertown, SD and surrounding areas

In business since 2018

Free estimates

"Jessie did a great job on our windows and his price was really reasonable. He was on time and very pleasant. Definitely recommend."

Response time1 day

Recommended by66%of homeowners

Serving Watertown, SD and surrounding areas

In business since 2023

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Sanchez Construction does great work! He is meticulous with all of his work. Iâ ve had him do multiple projects around my home and have not been disappointed. He painted, fixed some dry wall, installed a baby gate, fixed multiple exterior doors/seals. He takes great pride in his work and wants his customers to be happy with the work he does. I would recommend him to anyone needing home repairs!"

Recommended by100%of homeowners

Tree RemovalTree Trimming

Serving Watertown, SD and surrounding areas

In business since 2014

Free estimates

"They did a good job in a timely fashion."

Response time20 mins

Response rate100%

Recommended by100%of homeowners

Tree Removal - For BusinessTree TrimmingTree Trimming - For Business

Serving Watertown, SD and surrounding areas

In business since 2018

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"Zack was so efficient and came prepared to do the work. He cleaned up and hauled everything away after he was done, you couldn't tell he was ever there. Very nice and easy to deal with."

Recommended by100%of homeowners

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Aberdeen Yard Solutions

New to Angi

Tree TrimmingTree Trimming - For Business

Serving Watertown, SD and surrounding areas

In business since 2020

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

Aberdeen Yard Solutions, is committed to excellence in every aspect of our business. We uphold a standard of integrity bound by fairness, honesty and personal responsibility. Our distinction is the quality of service we bring to our customers. Accurate knowledge of our trade combined with ability is what makes us true professionals. Above all, we are watchful of our customers interests, and make their concerns the basis of our business.

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A-SAP

New to Angi

Tree RemovalTree Stump - RemoveTree Trimming+1 more

Serving Watertown, SD and surrounding areas

In business since 2022

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

A-SAP is committed to excellence in every aspect of our business. We uphold a standard of integrity bound by fairness, honesty, and personal responsibility. Our distinction is the quality of service we bring to our customers. Accurate knowledge of our trade combined with ability is what makes us true professionals. Above all, we are watchful of our customers' interests, and make their concerns the basis of our business.

Request Quote

Showing 1-10 of 14

Arborists questions, answered by experts

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.

It’s not always easy to tell when a tree is dying, although signs like dropping branches and brittle bark can sometimes offer clues. It can also be difficult to know whether a tree is dead or dormant, especially if it’s a deciduous tree. You’ll want to wait until a growth season to get a good idea of a tree’s health. When in doubt, contact an arborist for a consultation.

Your local government is usually in charge of pruning trees on public property, and the power company is responsible for trees near power lines (even if they’re on your property). Whether or not they top these trees depends on their approach to pruning. You won’t be able to do much to control this, but you can contact them to find out more about their pruning process.

If tree branches cross well into your property line, in many cases, these branches become part of your property, and you can trim them up until your neighbor’s property line. However, this issue will vary based on local ordinances, so you should do your research before making any decisions. Better yet, speak with your neighbor about how to handle any tree issues.

If you don’t mind the branches, you can leave them be, but if they’re becoming a hazard, it’s definitely worth having a conversation.

The best way is to start controlling tree height long before it grows too large, via careful pruning through the years. But that’s not always possible. If a tree has become too high or too large, use selective pruning to remove the most troublesome branches, one by one, without topping the tree. Gently shaping a tree like this can, over time, correct problems. You can also find growth inhibitors to spray on a tree to stop it from growing too rapidly, but use these sparingly if at all.

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