Photo: James Rojas
BROOKLINE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Make sure to check out your backyard for zombies this Halloween season — zombie trees, that is.
Zombie tree is a layman’s term for a tree that is dead or declining on the inside.
“So basically, it’s a tree that appears OK on the outside, but internally or below ground, is probably not in the best health,” said Dan Cohen, assistant district manager of Needham tree removal company Hartney Greymont.
The tree can pose a safety risk because limbs can fall off the tree, and the entire tree can potentially tip over.
Branches that have fallen on the ground around the tree, damage on the trunk, and a thinning canopy — i.e. the top of the tree has spots that lack leaves — are all signs of a zombie tree, Cohen said.
Photo: James Rojas
Zombie trees are also more susceptible to the weather.
Cohen said it’s “basically a tree that would likely be damaged whether it's a storm or a drought, like we’ve had the last month or so.”
Even a healthy tree could potentially uproot and tip over after an excessive amount of rain, Cohen said.
If you think you might have one of these trees on your property, Cohen said to reach out to a trained arborist.
WBZ’s James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.
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