Certified Arborist vs. Uncertified Removal: Can Your “Dying” Tree Be Saved?

Can Your “Dying” Tree Be Saved? Why You Need a Certified Arborist

It’s a sight that makes any homeowner in Minneapolis anxious: your favorite tree—the one that anchors your landscape—is starting to look sick. The needles are browning, the leaves are spotting, or the canopy is thinning.

Your first instinct is to call for help. But here lies the critical decision: Do you call a generic tree cutter, or a Certified Arborist?

The answer could be the difference between a simple Plant Health Care treatment and an expensive, unnecessary removal. At Bratt Tree, we often see valuable trees recommended for removal by untrained workers when they actually just need professional care to survive a disease or infection.

Here is why getting a diagnosis from an expert is vital before you fire up the chainsaw.

The Misdiagnosis: “It’s Dying” vs. “It’s Treatable”

For someone without extensive training in pathology and biology, many different tree problems look like a death sentence. Common issues include:

• Fungal infections (like Anthracnose or Needle Cast)
• Pest infestations (Borers, Mites, or Scales)
• Nutrient deficiencies (Chlorosis)
• Soil compaction

To an untrained eye, symptoms like yellowing leaves or dieback look like “a dying tree.” Their recommendation is often removal because that is the only service they sell.

However, a Certified Arborist acts as a “tree doctor.” We see those symptoms and diagnose the root cause. More often than not, the answer isn’t removal; it is a targeted Plant Health Care (PHC) program. Through deep-root fertilization, trunk injections, or soil amendments, we can often restore the tree’s health.

Saving Spruces: The Needle Blight Epidemic

One of the most common scenarios we see involves evergreen and spruce species in Minneapolis – St. Paul. A homeowner sees their mature spruce dropping needles or turning a rusty brown/purple color. They panic, thinking the tree is dead.

Uncertified tree services will almost always recommend removal.

At Bratt Tree, we know these are often classic signs of Needle Blight (Rhizosphaera) or Cytospora Canker—common and manageable fungal diseases. Instead of removal, we recommend a fungicide treatment program. In a short time, the disease is managed, and the tree recovers.

Pro Tip: It is significantly cheaper to treat a spruce for needle blight than it is to pay for a full removal and stump grinding.

The “Ugly” Tree: Why Structural Pruning is Better Than Removal

We also encounter homeowners who want to remove a tree purely for aesthetic reasons. Common complaints include:

• “The tree is blocking my view.”
• “It looks lopsided or messy.”
• “It’s growing too close to the roof.”

A “cut-and-run” tree service will happily remove the tree. But they lack the vision to see the tree’s potential.

Our team takes a different approach. We ask: “What specifically don’t you like about this tree?” Once we understand the objection, we can offer restorative pruning.

• Canopy Lifting: If a tree is blocking a view, we can prune the lower branches to raise the crown, letting in light and opening the space.
• Structural Pruning: If a tree looks lopsided, expert pruning can restore its natural form and balance.
• Clearance Pruning: We can trim back branches encroaching on structures without harming the tree’s integrity.

We have seen countless trees on “death row” become the most beautiful asset on a property after a proper pruning session.

Key Takeaways: Why Choose Bratt Tree?

• Diagnosis over Removal: We identify diseases like Needle Blight that untrained workers miss.
• Plant Health Care: We offer treatments to save trees, not just cut them down.
• Aesthetic Solutions: We use pruning to fix “ugly” trees rather than removing them.
• Cost Savings: Treating or pruning a tree is often more cost-effective than removal and replacement.

Get a Second Opinion from a Certified Arborist

Before you make the irreversible decision to remove a mature tree, pause. Ask yourself if the person giving you advice is a tree expert or just someone with a saw.

Don’t sentence a great tree to removal based on bad advice. Contact Bratt Tree today for a consultation. Let us help you save your tree, your money, and the beauty of your landscape.

Learn More About Our Plant Health Care Services!