A dead tree is no longer producing new wood or repairing damage, and its structural condition generally deteriorates with time. How urgent the removal is depends on what the tree could hit if it falls. A dead tree beside a house or sidewalk deserves more immediate attention than one standing far away from people and structures. 

Your basic private property tree removal and work involving street trees or required landscaping are not always governed the same way. Jeffersonville's tree ordinance says a private tree whose center is within 5 ft of the curb or pavement edge is subject to street tree rules. The city's development ordinance can impose replacement requirements on trees required as landscaping, so even though a tree may technically be on your property, it could still be subject to street tree rules. The safest approach is to confirm the tree's location and status when the right-of-way, required landscaping, or other development restrictions may be involved.

Not necessarily. Tree removal generally refers to cutting down and removing the above-ground tree, while stump grinding is an additional process that reduces the stump below ground level. If you plan to mow, landscape, install a fence, or otherwise reuse the area, it makes sense to discuss stump grinding when planning the removal.

Not as part of normal residential limb pickup, Jeffersonville's Sanitation Guidance states that when a contractor has been hired to trim or remove trees, that contractor is responsible for removing the resulting limbs and logs.

Of course. Land clearing can be selective. Brush, vines, saplings, and unwanted trees can be removed while larger desirable trees remain. It's important to decide what should stay before clearing begins to produce a more controlled finish on the property and avoid removing healthy trees unnecessarily.

Look for:

- Major dead limbs

- Fresh trunk cracks

- Cavities

- Mushrooms or decay near the base

- Recently exposed roots

- Sudden leaning or large branches that have broken during storms

One symptom doesn't always mean the tree has to be removed, but significant structural changes are worth having evaluated.

Keep people, pets, and vehicles away from hanging or partially detached limbs. Avoid working underneath damaged branches yourself. If electrical lines are involved, keep your distance and contact the utility provider before arranging tree work.

No, proper pruning makes targeted cuts based on branch structure and the purpose of the work. Topping indiscriminately cuts back major limbs or the upper canopy and can trigger weakly attached sprouts, large wounds, and decay.

Branches that repeatedly contact shingles, gutters, siding, or other building surfaces are worth evaluating for clearance pruning. This doesn't necessarily mean removing the entire major limb at the trunk. Depending on the branch structure, selective reduction may actually provide enough clearance while retaining healthy canopy.

Roots from most fully dead or removed trees eventually decompose because the root system no longer receives energy from a living canopy. Some tree species can produce sprouts from remaining roots or stump tissue, however, so the species and condition of the original tree can matter when regrowth is a concern.

Underground utilities do need to be located before mechanized work that involves the ground. Indiana 811 says excavators have to provide notice at least two full working days before covered excavation and confirm utility responses before beginning. Privately owned lines may need to be located via other methods because Indiana 811 member utilities do not mark every private facility on a residential property.