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Storm season is closer than you think. If you live near Los Mayas in Harmony, PA, now is the time to look at your trees. Not next month. Not after the first big storm hits. Right now.

The question most homeowners face is simple but important: do you trim the tree, or do you remove it? The answer matters more than most people realize. Make the wrong call and you could end up with a fallen tree on your roof, a cracked fence, or a dangerous situation for your family.

This post breaks it all down so you can make the right decision before storm season arrives.

Why This Decision Cannot Wait

Pennsylvania storms hit hard. Rain, wind, and ice can take down a weak tree in minutes. The Los Mayas area of Harmony, PA gets its share of rough weather. Trees that look fine in summer can become serious hazards once strong winds roll through.

The problem is that most homeowners wait too long. They notice a dead branch or some cracked bark and think it can wait until spring. Then a storm hits. Then they are dealing with cleanup, repairs, and sometimes injury.

Tree trimming and removal decisions should happen before storm season, not during it. Once a storm warning is out, tree crews are booked solid. You lose your options fast.

How to Tell If a Tree Needs Trimming

Not every tree with a problem branch needs to come down. Sometimes a good trim is all it takes. Here is what to look for when you think a tree just needs some cleanup.

The trunk looks healthy. No major cracks. No soft spots. No visible decay at the base. A solid trunk is a good sign that the tree still has structural strength.

Only a few branches are dead or damaged. If one or two limbs are bare, broken, or hanging low, trimming removes the hazard without touching the rest of the tree.

The canopy is mostly full. A tree that still pushes out healthy leaves through most of its crown is alive and working. Trimming the problem areas gives it a better chance to keep growing.

The tree leans slightly but not severely. A small lean with good root structure is often manageable. A severe lean toward your house or driveway is a different story.

When these conditions fit, tree trimming is the right move. It removes the immediate risk and keeps the tree standing for years to come.

How to Tell If a Tree Needs Full Removal

Some trees cannot be saved with a trim. They need to come down completely. Ignoring the signs is where homeowners get into real trouble.

The trunk has deep cracks or hollow sections. This means internal decay has taken over. The tree does not have the strength to handle storm winds. It is a fall risk every time weather rolls through.

More than half the canopy is dead. When a tree loses that much of its living structure, it rarely recovers. Trimming back that much would leave the tree looking stripped and structurally weak.

Roots are lifting or rotting at the base. If you see roots that push up through the soil unevenly or show soft, dark rot near the base, the anchor holding that tree in the ground is compromised. Strong wind and saturated soil can knock it over without much effort.

The tree leans sharply toward a structure. A tree that leans hard toward your home, a fence, a power line, or a public sidewalk is a liability. That lean combined with storm conditions is how properties get damaged and people get hurt.

Fungal growth on the trunk or roots. Mushrooms and shelf fungi growing at the base of a tree signal active internal decay. The tree may look alive above ground, but it is breaking down from the inside.

If you see two or more of these signs on a tree near your home in Los Mayas, that tree likely needs full removal before storm season.

The Middle Ground: When It Is Hard to Tell

Sometimes a tree falls between these two categories. It has some problems, but you are not sure if they are serious enough to justify removal. That is where a professional assessment makes all the difference.

A certified arborist does not just look at the outside of the tree. They check the root zone, test the wood density in problem areas, and evaluate the overall structure. That inspection gives you a clear answer instead of a guess.

Guessing on a tree near your house is not worth the risk.

What Happens If You Skip This Decision

Let's say you have a tree in your yard near Los Mayas that has some dead branches and a soft spot on the trunk. Storm season arrives. You did not get it checked. Here is what can happen.

A strong gust catches the dead branches. They snap and fall on your car, your fence, or someone walking by. Or the whole tree tips over under saturated soil conditions and lands on your roof. The cleanup cost, repair cost, and potential liability all add up fast.

Now compare that to the cost of a professional tree inspection and either a proper trim or controlled removal done by a trained crew. The second option costs far less and keeps your family safe.

Choosing the Right Tree Service in Harmony PA

Not all tree crews are equal. For work near homes, driveways, and public areas like the streets around Los Mayas, you need a team that brings the right equipment and proper technique. A crew that rushes through the job or skips proper cleanup leaves you with a different kind of problem.

Look for a local tree service with a track record in the Harmony, PA area. Local crews know the tree species in the region, the soil conditions, and the specific storm risks that come with Pennsylvania weather.

For professional tree trimming and removal services near Los Mayas, learn more about what a qualified local team can do for your property before storm season arrives.

You can also check their local reputation and location directly through their Google Business Profile to see reviews from other Harmony PA homeowners.

Before Storm Season: Your Action Plan

Here is a simple plan to follow right now if you live near Los Mayas in Harmony, PA.

Walk your yard this week. Look at every tree near your home, driveway, fence line, and public walkway. Check the trunk, the base, the branches, and the canopy. Take note of anything that looks off.

Write down what you see. Dead branches, leaning trunks, cracked bark, soft spots, root issues. Having a list helps when you talk to a tree professional.

Call for an inspection before the season shifts. Tree crews get booked fast once storm warnings start. Scheduling now gives you priority and more options.

Get a clear recommendation. A good arborist tells you directly whether a tree needs trimming, removal, or monitoring. You should leave that conversation with a concrete plan, not a vague suggestion.

Follow through before the first major storm. This is the step most people skip. Do not schedule the work and then delay it. Get it done while the weather cooperates.

The Bottom Line

Trees add value to your neighborhood. The Los Mayas area of Harmony, PA is a better place because of its mature tree canopy. But trees that are damaged, diseased, or structurally weak are not assets. They are hazards.

The trim or remove question has a clear answer once you look at the actual condition of the tree. Do not guess. Do not delay. Get the right eyes on your trees now and make the call before storm season takes it out of your hands.

Your home and your family are worth that decision.

Mike Cashdollar Owner, Keystone Tree Techs Address: 1656 Pine Run Rd, Rochester PA 15074 Contact at: 724–417–3751 Website: https://keystonetreetechs.net/