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
29 crews near Greenfield · 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.
1744 Sugar Creek Trail, Greenfield, IN 46140
“We were so grateful for Gaddie’s Tree Service. They are fabulous!!!! We had to wait do bad rainy weather, but once Gaddie’s got here they took care…”
BJ Cheesman · a year ago · Google
2067 Sunshine Dr, Greenfield, IN 46140
“We had a few things updated/upgraded on our property and cannot say enough good things about Doctor Tree & Landscape Specialists. They are truly…”
Brian Cross · a year 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
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
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
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
1768 W 900 N, Fortville, IN 46040
“Pro Finish did a great job for us. Jesse was a great communicator, and his crew was professional and easy to work with. We had three trees in the…”
James Barnard · 3 months ago · Google
6041 Middle Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46235
“This company helped my business finish a huge landscape job that we needed a professional arborist for. They filled my call, got me a quote within…”
Integrity Lawns · a year ago · Google
7427 W San Marco Dr, Fortville, IN 46040
“I want to leave a review for this business for the outstanding job they did. From the time I first contacted them till the very end everyone was…”
S Martin · a year ago · Google
12732 Castilla Pl, Indianapolis, IN 46236
“I woke up on Tue Apr 28 to find a 50 foot tree uprooted and leaning against my house, making creaking noises and threatening to crash through the…”
James McDougall · 3 months 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
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
Distance measured from Greenfield.