How to tackle a dying tree

It's an inevitable fact: amid life, there is death. When beloved shrubs or perennials in our gardens die, we yank them out--with either frustration or regret--and carry on. When a tree dies, we ponder, we sigh, we stamp our feet like five-year-olds in a petty fit of rage. How on earth are we going to get rid of a tree without great expense (to both our wallets and our emotions)?

I don't suggest cutting corners when it comes to tree removal. Do-it-yourselfers and inexpensive mom-and-pop outfits can be costly in the long run. I mean, really, do you want to lose a limb cutting down limbs? Do you want to risk a serious injury from a fall or a lawsuit from the guy down the street who said he could take your tree down? If a tree's days are numbered, call a fully insured tree removal service to cut it down and cart it away. You can usually get a better price if you let them keep the firewood.

Fortunately trees will usually give you clues regarding their demise--often years in advance. The first clue is a reduction in leafing in all or part of the tree. If you are noticing this, check the tree's bark. Dying trees' bark will be brittle and fall off more easily than the ones in good health. Also be on the lookout for falling limbs and a brittle, or even spongy trunk. These are all signs that insects, fungus, or even old age has set in.

When it comes to aging, trees are like dogs (in reverse). The smaller the tree, the shorter the lifespan. Ornamentals, which reach 20-35 feet high, generally last 15-20 years; maples live 75-100 years, and oaks and pine trees can last two to three centuries! If you suspect your tree is dying, call an arborist or tree doctor for a professional diagnosis. Their services aren't cheap, but if they can save the tree, they'll save you the expense of removing it. And you won't get teary-eyed when you watch a crew cut down the beautiful old mulberry that your kids' tire swing hung from (like I did, sob).

If you've done your due diligence and determined that the tree is indeed a goner, there may be a way to hang onto a part of it for a while longer. Check your local art community (or even sites like Craigslist) for craftsmen who can carve something unique and beautiful into the trunk, like my friend did. As shown, above, she contracted the services of a chainsaw artist who expertly carved a bald eagle atop her dying oak. Now she has a handsome reminder of her cherished tree as well as our nation's symbol of freedom and bravery keeping a protective eye on her garden.