The old elm tree in the front yard may be like an old friend of the family, but time and disease have taken its toll and now the tree is dying. Your first consideration should be if the tree is a hazard to people or property. Have the tree evaluated by a professional to see if it might recover or should be removed.

Removing a tree can be costly, but consider the danger and damage if it were to blow over during a storm. While you might be tempted to only remove the large dying branches, often you will still have to remove the entire tree in a few years. This means two costly services instead of just the one if you had removed it in the first place.

Removing a large tree should be left to professionals. Check the phone listings, usually under "Tree Service." If possible, check to see if this is an established business in the community or nearby area. Ask for current certificates of insurance showing that they are fully insured for property damage, personal liability and worker compensation. Then call the insurer for verification!!

Some trees simply can’t be saved or aren't worth saving. If the tree has already been weakened by disease, if the trunk is split or more than 50 percent of the crown is gone, the tree has lost its survival edge. Even if a storm has damaged the tree, don't top the tree. Prune the broken branch back to the trunk. Topping reduces the amount of foliage, on which the tree depends for the food and nourishment needed for re-growth. A topped tree that has already sustained major storm damage is more likely to die than repair itself.