Dead & Hazardous Tree Removal in Burlington County, NJ

Warning signs worth a professional look

• Cracks or splits in the trunk or where two main stems meet, especially a tight V-shaped union.
• A new lean, or soil heaving and cracking on one side of the base after a storm.
• Mushrooms or conks on the trunk or root flare, which often signal internal decay.
• Dead limbs in the crown, or a crown that leafs out thin or late.
• Hollow sounds, cavities or carpenter ant activity in the trunk.
• Ash trees with D-shaped exit holes and woodpecker damage, a sign of emerald ash borer. Ash killed by the borer becomes brittle quickly, which makes removal more dangerous the longer it waits.

Assessment versus removal

Not every scary-looking tree needs to come down. Sometimes removing one heavy limb or a dead leader is enough. A Licensed Tree Expert can do a formal hazard assessment and write down what they find. That documentation can matter: Evesham's tree ordinance, for example, asks for documentation from a licensed tree expert or certified arborist when a homeowner removes a tree as hazardous, and other towns ask for similar proof before exempting a tree from permit or replacement rules.

Why dead trees cost more to remove safely

Dead wood is unpredictable. Climbers often cannot tie into a dead tree safely, so crews may need a bucket truck or crane and more time to lower pieces carefully. That is one reason it usually pays to deal with a dead tree before it drops limbs on the roof.

Trees on the property line

If a hazardous tree is on your neighbor's side, or straddles the line, talk with your neighbor first and put it in writing. A tree contractor should not cut onto someone else's property without permission. For street trees between the sidewalk and curb, check with your township first; rules on who removes them vary by town.

What to include in your request

Describe what you have noticed and roughly when it started, what the tree could hit if it fell, and attach a note about any township letters you have received. A partner contractor will follow up to arrange a look.

Burlington County Tree Removal is an independent referral service, not a contractor. We do not perform tree removal or any other tree work ourselves. When you send a request, we share it with an independent partner contractor serving Burlington County, NJ, who contacts you directly. Any estimate, contract, pricing, licensing, insurance and workmanship are between you and that contractor. Please verify their credentials before you hire.