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
45 crews near Cumberland · 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.
646 S 600 W Building #5, New Palestine, IN 46163
“This is the second time we have hired Holmes for tree work at our home. A few years ago they removed a tree that was too close to our home and did an…”
Jennifer Kost-Barker · 2 months ago · Google
52 525W, Greenfield, IN 46140
“Had a tree fall on my home, my mother knew one of the employees (Conner) he got in touch with Scott who came from near Indy all the way to Fort Wayne…”
Jacquelin Clark · 4 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
5067 W US Hwy 40, Greenfield, IN 46140
“This company is very courteous and friendly. They are prompt and fast at what they do. I had three large silver lead maples trimmed, seven dead ash…”
Zach Bailey · 7 years 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
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
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
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
4621 S Brooklawn Dr, New Palestine, IN 46163
“I was fortunate to have Shawn Miller replace a large three in one window in my residence. He was extremely thorough removing the exterior cement…”
Ric Vega · 5 years ago · Google
9618 Pepperidge Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46235
“Saw an ad on Instagram and didn’t expect much, but boy was I wrong! I was immediately contacted and put on the schedule at my earliest convenience…”
Cassidy Conn · 2 months ago · Google
8323 E 46th St, Indianapolis, IN 46226
“R&C Tree And Landscaping has given me a usable yard again. After having been a caregiver for 15 years, I had lost the bulk of my usable yard. The…”
M Wilcher · a year ago · Google
Lot 342, 5135 N Post Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46226
“I had an excellent experience with DC Tree Service in Indianapolis, Indiana. They completed a tree service project at my property, and the results…”
Juan Alvaro · a month ago · Google
Distance measured from Cumberland.