When to call an arborist
Do not wait on these
Some signs mean a tree needs professional attention soon rather than someday. A limb that is hanging or split after wind, especially over a path, driveway, deck or roof, is the classic urgent call. So is any sudden lean that was not there last month, soil that has lifted or cracked on one side of the base, or large dead sections appearing in the crown over a single season. If a tree has dropped a major limb, the remaining structure deserves a check — failures often come in pairs.
Book a visit for these
Less urgent but still worth a professional opinion: branches rubbing the roof or gutters, a crown that has grown into powerline clearance zones, suckering or epicormic shoots signalling stress, and fruit trees that have not been pruned in years and need restorative work. None of these is an emergency, but all of them get cheaper and simpler the earlier they are handled.
Things you can safely watch
Not everything unusual is a problem. Many species shed interior leaves or drop small dead twigs as part of normal growth. Autumn colour arriving a week early in a dry year is usually weather, not disease. Lichen on bark looks dramatic but is generally harmless — it grows on slow-growing bark, it does not attack it. When in doubt, take a photo and note when you first saw the change; that record is genuinely useful to whoever assesses the tree.
What happens on a visit
An arborist will walk around the tree, look up into the crown with binoculars if needed, check the base and root zone, and ask about the tree's history — recent digging, severe weather events, changes nearby. You should expect a plain-language explanation of what is wrong (if anything), what work is recommended and why, and what can safely be left alone. Be wary of anyone who recommends major work without explaining the reasoning.
A note for Sumner owners
Coastal wind prunes Sumner trees whether owners like it or not, and salt-laden gales can desiccate foliage on exposed sites. After a big southerly, a quick walk around your trees costs nothing and catches most problems early. And if anything looks wrong, call Shady Oaks Trees on +64 3 326 7415 — that is what a local tree service is for.