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When do you need to call a tree doctor?
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Workers cut down ageing pine trees, as part of a maintenance operation, along Via dei Fori Imperiali in central Rome, Italy, on Feb 13.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Homeowners who plant trees know how crucial care is during the formative years of the investment. But what about that front yard guardian that is likely older than the house itself?
Although a mature tree may not demand the same attention as a young Japanese maple, problems still arise. And while a property owner with a green thumb can usually prune young trees from terra firma, mature trees require specialised cutting, pest and disease management that professionals should handle.


