Weak Limbs, Invasive Pests & Shallow Root Systems Can Hurt Your Trees

Lately in eastern Pennsylvania it’s hard not to notice our thinning canopies, dead treetops, and trees with brittle branches. More now than in past years. Homeowners in suburban neighborhoods and small towns from the Lehigh Valley to Bucks County are reporting trees that look sickly, lose large limbs in storms, or simply decline without an obvious single cause. Several interacting trends help explain why today appears worse for trees than in recent years — and why homeowners should pay attention now.

What's hurting our trees?

Three big, overlapping drivers are showing up across the landscape:

1. Climate extremes — hotter heat waves and more intense dry spells. Trees stressed by heat and drought are less able to resist disease and insect attack; recent studies show combined extreme heat and drought best explain recent upticks in tree mortality. When a tree loses its ability to move water and make food because of heat stress, branches die back and roots weaken.


2. Persistent insect outbreaks and invasive pests. Pennsylvania has a long history of insect problems (emerald ash borer, hemlock woolly adelgid, spongy moth/spongy moth defoliation) and newer invaders like the spotted lanternfly. Heavy, repeated defoliation, sap-feeding and boring activity zap a tree’s reserves over multiple seasons and can convert a marginal tree into one that’s doomed to decline. PA forestry and extension programs continue to track and manage these pests because of their strong, measurable impacts.


3. “Decline complexes” and cumulative stress. Often it isn’t a single fatal event but many small stressors — poor planting sites, compacted soils, construction damage, root loss, repeated defoliation, drought years that accumulate until a tree simply can’t recover. Penn State Extension notes that these combined stress events drive downward trends in tree health, so what looks like a sudden failure is usually the end of a long, slow decline.

 

Why heavy branches, shallow roots, and pest-infested trees are dangerous.

When trees are weakened, they stop allocating resources to maintain strong wood and deep roots. That leads to three common risk factors:

• Heavy, unbalanced branches: Dead or dying limbs are brittle. Heavy branches full of soggy leaves in wet weather or laden with ice are more likely to break and fall directly onto roofs, siding, cars, or people.


• Shallow or damaged root systems: Roots confined by pavement, poor soils, or compacted lawns can't anchor the tree. Even moderate winds or saturated soil can topple a tree with compromised roots, often sending an entire trunk across a driveway or roof.


• Pest- or disease-weakened: Insects that bore into wood or diseases that rot heartwood create hidden failures. A tree can look “okay” above while the core is failing, meaning sudden collapse with little warning.

 

All three scenarios commonly turn a backyard hazard into property damage: dented cars, broken gutters, damaged roofing, crushed fences, and serious safety risks to people working or playing nearby.

What should a homeowner do if a tree looks weakened?

Practical steps to protect people and property:

1. Observe and document. Note leaning, cracking, oozing sap, large dead limbs, cavities, or mushrooms at the base. Photograph changes (date-stamped photos help with insurance).


2. Avoid DIY removal for large or dangerous trees. Removing large limbs or trees without training is hazardous. For safety and liability reasons call a pro.


3. Call a qualified arborist for an assessment. Look for an ISA-certified arborist or an experienced local arborist in Perkasie area to give a risk evaluation and written recommendations.


4. Get written bids for corrective work. Whether you need pruning, cabling/bracing, targeted pest treatments, or full removal, secure estimates. If you need immediate help after a storm, search for storm damage tree removal near me but confirm credentials and insurance before work begins.


5. Hire reputable local services when work is needed. If you’re in Central Bucks or Upper Bucks, a local tree company in Central Bucks County or a tree removal service in Upper Bucks that carries insurance and has references is the safer bet. For scheduled maintenance, consider a regular tree trimming service in Upper Bucks to reduce hazard and keep canopies healthy.

 

Don’t Wait Till It’s Too Late

Trees often mask decline until the moment of failure. If you notice one or two weakened trees on your property, don’t wait for the next windstorm. Contact an arborist in Northampton County or your area to assess risks and schedule corrective action. The cost of pruning or removal now can be a fraction of what an insurance claim or repair bill will be if a tree falls on a home or car. In short: act early, hire professionals, and protect your family and property.