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
32 crews near Noblesville · 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.
801 N 15th St, Noblesville, IN 46060
“Indy Lumberjacks did a fantastic job on removing our redbud tree. It was diseased and ready to fall. Dean Hudnall and his crew of Indy Lumberjacks…”
Allen Sparenblek · 3 months ago · Google
605 Sheridan Rd Unit 5303, Noblesville, IN 46060
“Eric and his assistant were very efficient and effective in the lower branch pruning of my three Norway Spruce trees. Eric was very detailed in his…”
Jim Eggleston · 10 months ago · Google
8811 Saville Rd, Noblesville, IN 46060
“I have used Green Tree Service for tree removal many times and each time they have far exceeded my expectations. Recently, a wind gust in our area…”
Asad Rana · 3 months ago · Google
14640 River Rd, Noblesville, IN 46062
“Wow! I have had a lot of trees removed in my 82 years! These guys get it done and rather quickly. Their equipment is head spinning and jaw dropping…”
George Roberto · 8 years ago · Google
13255 Parkside Dr Apt 102, Fishers, IN 46038
“I cannot say enough good things about Carlos and his team at Evergreen Outdoors Tree Service & Landscaping. Carlos is very polite and professional…”
Eric Potts · 4 years ago · Google
4621 E 146th St, Carmel, IN 46033
“The entire staff is great to work with and, while they are a bit expensive, they do careful work and are extremely professional. In a previous…”
David Morris · a month ago · Google
820 E Main St, Westfield, IN 46074
“We had an issue with a fairly new tree that was planted in the front lawn. The Xanderbuilt staff came out and diagnosed the issue of compacted clay…”
David Barrabee · 2 years ago · Google
8831 Birch St, Fishers, IN 46038
“This company is AMAZING! I called in the morning for an estimate, they were in the neighborhood working on another job, and added me in. I got the…”
Stephanie Schulenborg · 5 years ago · Google
14500 Dublin Dr, Carmel, IN 46033
“I have no words and I am truly speechless at the work Roger and his crew did on my home! I received a few quotes and not only was Roger competitive…”
David M. Johnson · 2 months ago · Google
152 Lotus Dr Apt 1, Carmel, IN 46032
“Romeo and his crew did a fantastic job for us! Trimmed back two large red maple trees that were very overgrown, cut down a pine tree and ground up…”
Alex Miller · 2 months ago · Google
10475 Crosspoint Blvd Ste 250-2645, Indianapolis, IN 46256
“The owner, Curt, is great to deal with. His estimates are very clear and fair. He is there (from start to finish) personally supervising his crew and…”
Sweetie Punk · 6 years ago · Google
14706 Harvest Dr, Carmel, IN 46032
“Anthony and his team did an excellent job of removing multiple trees in my back and side yard, along with stump grinding. They also did a bunch of…”
Frances Russell · 4 months ago · Google
Distance measured from Noblesville.