Spring shows you what winter actually did to your trees. Some look fine at first, then you notice a branch hanging lower than it used to. Or a tree leaning just a bit more than last year.
This checklist helps you catch those things early. Nothing complicated here. Just what to look for and what to deal with before storms start rolling through Indianapolis. This is the same kind of stuff crews like ASAP Tree and Crane Service end up handling every spring.
Start With a Slow Walk Around Your Yard
Don’t overthink this part. Just walk your property and look at your trees like you haven’t seen them in a while.
Winter shifts things. Ice weighs branches down. Wind moves trees in ways you don’t notice right away.
Stand back and look first. Then get a little closer.
Does anything look off compared to last year? A branch lower than before? A tree leaning in a way you don’t remember?
If something catches your eye, there’s usually a reason.
Look for Branches That Didn’t Make It
Some branches won’t come back once spring hits. They stay bare while everything else starts growing.
You’ll spot them pretty quickly. They look dry. Sometimes they crack. Sometimes they just hang there.
Those are the ones that end up falling later.
If they’re low, you can deal with them. If they’re high up or over your house, don’t mess with it. That’s where people get into trouble.
This is the kind of work ASAP Tree and Crane Service gets calls for all the time, especially when branches sit over roofs or driveways.
Step Back and Look at the Shape
This part gets skipped a lot.
Trees don’t always grow evenly. One side can get heavier. Branches can start pushing into each other.
Stand back again and take a look.
Does the tree feel lopsided? Do branches cross or crowd each other?
A few small cuts can help with that. Nothing major. Just enough to give the tree some space.
If you’re not sure where to cut, leave it. Bad cuts cause more problems than they fix.
Check the Ground Around the Tree
Most people look up and forget about the base. That’s where a lot of issues start.
Take a look at the soil around the trunk.
Does it look lifted or cracked? Are roots showing more than before?
You might spot mushrooms near the base, or the ground might feel a bit soft in places.
Could be nothing. Could be something starting.
If it wasn’t like that last year, I wouldn’t ignore it. Better to get it looked at early.
Clean Up What’s Sitting Around It
Start by checking what’s sitting right around the trunk. Most yards in Indianapolis have a layer of leaves and broken branches left over from winter.
That material holds water longer than you want. It also blocks airflow and can lead to soft spots near the base.
Clear a small ring around the tree. Move debris a few feet out so the base stays dry.
It’s simple work, but it makes a noticeable difference as the weather warms up.
Watch for Early Signs of Problems
As the weather warms up, issues show up fast.
Look at the bark. Look at the leaves as they come in.
Do you see spots? Bare patches? Areas that just don’t look right?
Sometimes it’s small. A section of the tree that isn’t filling in like the rest.
Catching that early makes a difference. Waiting usually means more work later.
Think About Storm Season Before It Gets Here
This is the part most people wait on.
Spring leads into storm season around here. Wind and heavy rain don’t give you much warning.
Take a look at the trees closest to your house.
If a branch came down, where would it land?
That one question usually tells you what needs attention.
A lot of emergency calls come from trees that already showed signs weeks earlier. They just didn’t get checked.
ASAP Tree and Crane Service deals with that every year. Same pattern. Small issue turns into a bigger one after a storm.
Keep It Simple This Spring and Stay Ahead of Problems
You don’t need a complicated plan. Just pay attention to what’s changed.
Walk your yard. Look at your trees. Deal with the obvious stuff early.
If something doesn’t feel right, don’t guess. Get it checked.
If you’d rather have someone take a look and give you a straight answer, ASAP Tree and Crane Service works all over the Indianapolis area. They handle both routine work and urgent situations.
If a tree is giving you that feeling something’s off, it’s better to check it now than deal with damage later.
