Save it if it’s mostly healthy: prune damaged limbs, and treat a healthy ash every three years (Purdue says ash with more than 30% canopy loss can’t be saved). Remove trees that are dead or showing several warning signs near your house. Call AES Indiana before any work near power lines, and check with the city before touching a tree in the right-of-way.
If a big tree is leaning toward your house, dropping limbs or tangled in wires, get it looked at now. A tree that is mostly healthy can often be pruned or treated and saved. A dead or badly damaged one, especially an ash, is usually a removal. And if power lines run through it, that is not a DIY job.
How do I know if a tree is dangerous?
AES Indiana tells Indy homeowners to inspect their trees regularly and again after major storms. These are the warning signs it lists:
- Broken or dangling branches
- Fungus growing on the tree, or missing bark
- Insect exit holes in the trunk or limbs
- Cracked or heaving soil near the base, which can mean the roots are failing
One sign on its own doesn’t always mean the tree has to go. Several of them together, on a tree big enough to hit your house, a car or a sidewalk, means you should get a professional opinion soon.
Should I remove it or save it?
| What you’re seeing | Usually means |
|---|---|
| Healthy ash with a full canopy | Worth protecting with treatment |
| Ash with more than 30% of its canopy gone | Too far gone to save with insecticide; plan removal (Purdue) |
| A dead or dying ash near the house, drive or street | Removal, done carefully; dead ash can fall unpredictably |
| One broken or dangling limb on an otherwise healthy tree | Often pruning, not removal |
| Several warning signs at once (fungus, cracks, heaving soil) | Have a certified arborist assess it before you decide |
| Limbs in or near power lines | Call AES Indiana before anyone climbs or cuts |
Is emerald ash borer still a problem in Indianapolis?
Yes. Purdue entomologists say emerald ash borer was first found in Indiana in 2004, and most untreated ash trees in the state are now dead. The beetle is here to stay. Purdue Extension says it will kill every ash tree that isn’t protected.
The good news: a healthy ash can still be saved. Purdue’s researchers, who ran a study on Indianapolis ash trees, say treating once every three years is enough to keep trees alive, and spring treatments worked better than fall ones in that study. Stretching past three years raises the risk of losing the tree.
Watch the top of the tree. Purdue says fresh woodpecker holes in the upper canopy, or new thinning up there, are signs treatment may be needed. Once a tree has lost more than 30% of its canopy, Purdue says it should not be saved with insecticides.
If an ash is already dead, don’t wait on it. Purdue warns that dead and dying ash can fall on people and property, and that ash near houses and other structures need special precautions during removal so falling limbs don’t cause damage. That is work for an experienced crew.
Who handles trees near power lines in Indianapolis?
AES Indiana trims trees away from its power lines year-round. The line that runs from the pole to your house, the service line, is a different story. AES Indiana says keeping that line clear is the property owner’s job, and it recommends hiring a professional tree service to do it.
AES Indiana is blunt about one thing: never try to trim a tree with power lines running through it. If your tree crew needs to work near your service line, AES Indiana will temporarily shut off power to it at no charge. Call 317-261-8111 a few days before the work to schedule it.
What if the tree is between the sidewalk and the street?
That tree may not be yours. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, which plants street trees with the city, explains that the public right-of-way varies. It may be the strip between the street and the sidewalk, the area just past the sidewalk, or the strip nearest the street where there is no sidewalk.
KIB says the City of Indianapolis handles long-term maintenance of trees in the right-of-way, and it points residents to the Mayor’s Action Center for tree concerns and removal requests. The city’s right-of-way permit application also states that a permit must be obtained for activities in the right-of-way. So before you or a contractor cut a street tree, check with the city first. Right-of-way questions go to ROW@indy.gov.
When should I call an ISA certified arborist?
Call one when the tree is big, near something you care about, or you can’t tell whether it’s safe. That covers most of the hard calls in this guide. The International Society of Arboriculture says its certification shows a person has the minimum knowledge and skills for the credential they hold, and credential holders follow a code of ethics.
- Before you remove a large tree you might be able to save
- When an ash shows canopy thinning or fresh woodpecker holes
- After a storm leaves cracks, splits or a new lean
- When a tree is close to your house, garage or a neighbor’s property
You can look up and verify ISA credentials yourself on the ISA’s Find an Arborist directory. Listings are voluntary, so if someone isn’t listed, ask them for their certification number.
What should I ask a tree service before I hire them?
- Is there an ISA certified arborist on your team, and will they look at my tree?
- Do you carry liability insurance and workers’ comp? Can I see the certificate?
- Have you removed dead ash before, close to houses?
- Who calls AES Indiana if the job is near my service line?
- Is cleanup, hauling and stump grinding included, or separate?
Ready to hire? See our best tree service companies in Indianapolis.
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Sources: Purdue Extension: Emerald Ash Borer Management; Purdue Landscape Report: Should ash trees still be protected from emerald ash borer? (2023); AES Indiana: Maintaining trees on your property; Keep Indianapolis Beautiful: Community Forestry; City of Indianapolis BNS: Right-of-Way Permit Application; ISA TreesAreGood: Find an Arborist. Checked November 2026.
