Laurel oaks grow fast and give a lot of shade, which is why so many older Lakeland neighborhoods have them. The catch is that they don't live as long as live oaks, and they can rot from the inside where you can't see it.
From UF/IFAS guidance (UF/IFAS EP507): 1. Mushrooms or shelf-like conks on the trunk or root flare 2. Cavities, or soft, crumbling wood 3. Carpenter ants going in and out of the trunk 4. Root problems: cut, damaged, lifting or decaying roots 5. Dead limbs or thinning in the upper crown 6. Cracks or splits where large limbs join
Have the tree looked at in person. An ISA-certified arborist can do a formal risk assessment. Under Florida law, that documentation can also matter for permits on single-family lots (see the permit guide). Depending on what's found, a company may recommend tree trimming to remove risky limbs or tree removal.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis of your tree.
Call (863) 267-9528 or send your tree details through our contact page. It's free to request. An independent local company reviews your job and sets its own price; we don't do the work.
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Tree Removal Lakeland is an independent service that connects callers with local tree care providers; we are not a tree contractor. Disclosure