Three distinct patterns that do not mean the same thing. Neat horizontal rows of shallow, evenly spaced holes ringing a trunk or limb is a sapsucker. Scattered pecking with the outer bark chipped away so an ash trunk looks streaked or blonde is woodpeckers stripping bark to reach larvae. Large oval or rectangular holes gouged several inches deep with coarse chips piled at the base is a pileated woodpecker cutting into wood that was already soft.
Not urgent
48 crews near Beech Grove · Free estimate · No obligation
Woodpeckers are reading the tree for you. Apart from sapsuckers they are not attacking it — they follow insects, and insects follow dead or decaying wood. Heavy foraging damage is evidence that something else got there first, so the bird is the alarm rather than the fire. Sapsuckers are the exception: they drill for sap on healthy trees, and while the rows look bad and can occasionally girdle a small limb, they rarely kill an established tree.
This is normally a tree trimming job, which around here runs $250 to $1,400 depending on size and access. Treat that as a range, not a quote — nobody can price it without seeing it.
1138 S Drexel Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
“Dave and his friendly crew cut down 4 trees, trimmed/thinned 7 more in 2 days! Great communication, quick response time, great price compared to…”
Jon Caudle · a month ago · Google
1632 E Thompson Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46227
“I had a fantastic experience with arborist professionals by widest tree experts! They were professional, punctual, and extremely knowledgeable. From…”
bradley ketchem · 11 months ago · Google
1917 S Franklin Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46239
“Larry showed up in the morning and gave me an estimate that was fair. His crew was showed up, same day, and knocked out the job in a couple hours…”
Rick Oncale · 3 months ago · Google
5360 Cordes Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46227
“Jesse was awesome -- he showed up on time, worked quickly, and safely removed 7 hedge stumps that I had cut down a few months ago. He used a shield…”
Missy Bigler · 11 months ago · Google
385 S Franklin Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46219
“Paul came out for an estimate. Later same week,Paul and his crew of 6 worked hard and did a complete pruning and shape up of my 30yearold oak. The…”
Steve Worden · 7 months ago · Google
269 N Shortridge Rd Apt 3, Indianapolis, IN 46219
“Requested an estimate on Yelp from several tree management companies for my daughters property and Alex showed up on time to provide the estimate, he…”
SK 214 · 8 months ago · Google
325 E Banta Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46227
“Highly recommend! My home unfortunately came with an invasive mulberry tree that was only inches from my roof corner; due to location and species it…”
Stacey Windhorst · 2 years ago · Google
4035 E Stop 11 Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46237
“They were 1 of 3 tree companies (highly regarded) I called for estimates after a storm took down a huge limb in our backyard. 1 never called back, 1…”
Wendy Foley · 3 years ago · Google
507 S Post Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46239
“I give this company 10 stars!! We had turned in the fact that this huge tree at the NW end of a church's lot prevented drivers from safely crossing…”
Amy L. Allison · a month ago · Google
1812 Elmhurst Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46219
“I called Benjamin Tree Service after receiving their flyer in the mail. We set up an on site appointment for the very same day I called (Friday). We…”
Jane Smith · a year ago · Google
1407 W Epler Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46217
“I’ve used them twice now at two different properties. I’ve been in the green industry for 30 years. These people know what they’re doing, they do it…”
Steve Wicker · 3 years ago · Google
1251 U.S. Hwy 31 N, Greenwood, IN 46142
“Our pear tree broke in half and was blocking part of our neighborhood road. These guys came out quickly, trimmed the fallen branch down and removed…”
Steve Sewell · 4 years ago · Google
Distance measured from Beech Grove.