Tree Health
Assessment
Not sure if your tree is healthy, hazardous, or somewhere in between? We’ll look at it and tell you the truth. Free property walkthroughs across Middlesex County.
When Should You
Call About a Tree?
Here’s the honest answer: if you are looking at a tree and thinking “that doesn’t look right,” you should call. Your instinct is usually correct. Dead branches, new lean, fungal growth, bark falling off, a canopy that looks thinner than last year — these are all signs that something is happening and the tree needs attention.
After 30+ years of tree work in Middlesex County, I have seen every tree problem that exists in New England. Some are fixable with pruning or treatment. Some require monitoring. Some require immediate removal before the tree fails and drops on your house, your car, or your family. The key is knowing which category your tree falls into — and that is what we figure out during a free property walkthrough.
We are not consulting arborists who charge $300 for a written report. We are working tree service professionals who have been assessing and removing trees for three decades. We look at your tree, tell you what we see, and recommend the right course of action — whether that is pruning, removal, monitoring, or doing nothing at all. If the tree is fine, we’ll tell you it’s fine and leave. We do not manufacture work.
Warning Signs
to Watch For
Dead branches in the upper canopy
Fungal growth (mushrooms, conks) on trunk or roots
Bark splitting, peeling, or falling off
Leaning that has changed or worsened
Root heaving or exposed root damage
Hollow trunk or cavities
Canopy thinning or premature leaf drop
Insect boring (D-shaped holes, sawdust at base)
Our Assessment
Process
01
Call & Describe Your Concern
Tell us what you are seeing — dead branches, leaning, fungal growth, pest damage. We will schedule a free walkthrough at your property.
02
On-Site Inspection
We inspect the tree from root flare to canopy. We look at trunk integrity, branch structure, root health, lean, soil conditions, and signs of disease or pest infestation.
03
Honest Recommendation
We tell you what we see and what we recommend: prune, monitor, treat, or remove. If the tree is healthy, we will tell you. We do not manufacture work.
04
Action Plan & Estimate
If work is needed, you get a fixed-price estimate on the spot. Pruning, removal, or monitoring — whatever the tree actually needs.
Common Tree
Health Issues
Emerald ash borer damage — The single biggest tree health crisis in our area. If you have ash trees, they are likely infested or dead. Read our complete emerald ash borer guide.
Storm damage assessment — After every major storm, trees that look fine from the ground may have cracked branches, split trunks, or compromised root systems. Post-storm assessments catch these before the next storm finishes the job.
Structural defects — Co-dominant stems (two trunks growing from the same point), included bark, heavy lean, and cavity formation are structural issues that increase the risk of failure. Some can be managed with pruning. Some cannot.
Root problems — Construction damage, soil compaction, grade changes, and root rot can all compromise a tree’s stability without showing obvious above-ground symptoms. A tree that suddenly leans after heavy rain may have failing roots.
Assessment
Service Areas
We provide free tree health assessments in every town listed below. Click your town for local tree service details.
FAQ
When should I call about a tree health concern?
Call whenever something looks different or wrong. Dead branches appearing in the canopy, new lean, mushrooms growing on the trunk or at the base, bark falling off, or a tree that just does not look right compared to last year. Early assessment catches problems when they are still treatable. Do not wait until a storm knocks it onto your house.
Do you charge for tree health assessments?
No. We provide free property walkthroughs and tree assessments across our 18-town service area. We look at your trees, tell you what we see, and give you an honest recommendation. If work is needed, we provide a free estimate. If the tree is fine, we tell you that too — and we do not charge for the visit.
What is the difference between a tree assessment and an arborist consultation?
A consulting arborist provides written reports, often for legal, insurance, or real estate purposes. We provide practical field assessments — we look at the tree, identify the issue, and recommend a course of action. If you need a formal written report for insurance or legal reasons, we can refer you to a certified consulting arborist.
Can a leaning tree be saved?
It depends on why it is leaning. A tree that has always grown at an angle may be perfectly stable. A tree that has started leaning recently — especially after a storm or heavy rain — may have compromised roots and is a removal candidate. Sudden lean with root heaving (soil lifting on one side) is an emergency. Call us immediately.
What tree diseases are common in Massachusetts?
The biggest current threats in our service area: emerald ash borer (killing all untreated ash trees), hemlock woolly adelgid (attacking eastern hemlocks), winter moth (defoliating oaks and maples), and various fungal infections including Armillaria root rot and canker diseases. We see all of these regularly across Middlesex County.
Should I remove a tree with mushrooms growing on it?
Mushrooms on a tree trunk or at the base usually indicate internal decay. Some fungi are saprophytic (feeding on dead wood) while others are parasitic (actively killing the tree). Not all mushroom-bearing trees need removal — but all of them need assessment. Call us and we will look at it. If the decay has compromised the structural integrity, the tree needs to come down before it fails on its own.
Worried about
a tree?
Call us for a free assessment. We’ll look at it, tell you what we see, and give you an honest recommendation. If it’s fine, we’ll say so.
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