Driving through the neighborhood, you might notice a surprising amount of sick trees rooted in front yards. Many are distinguished by unsightly bare branches, but some tree diseases are hard to detect from a distance.
If the tree doesn’t succumb to a visible ailment, you may not even notice there’s anything wrong. If you don’t examine your trees regularly, it might take years before the truth dawns; as time passes and the tree becomes brittle, there can be no avoiding it.
That tree has to go. No one is keen on the task; depending on the size of the tree, you might even need a crane and volunteers to clear the area. This is heavier than the yardwork most people are accustomed to.
That being said, it’s a bad idea to leave a sick tree in place. It’ll bring more problems in the future. Here are five reasons you should get a move on clearing the sick trees in your yard.
1.They’re unsightly.
We work hard to make our yards beautiful for the summer. Having a dead tree in the middle spoils the effort we put into flower beds and paint jobs. Be sure to remove the sick tree before you invest in simpler jobs; otherwise, it might uproot all you’ve planted, forcing you to start over.
2. Sick trees threaten other plants.
If a disease has brought down one tree, it could spread. Some diseases are contagious, such as mildew; if you’ve planted flowers under the infected tree, or have other trees in the area, they could easily come down with the illness themselves. It’s harder to contain the damage if your entire yard becomes infected.
3. They attract pests.
Sick or dead trees are perfect places for insects and rodents to build their homes. Termites will first invade the wood of a dying tree; they could eventually turn up in your house, escalating the problem and making it costlier to solve.
4. Sick trees aren’t safe.
Branches could fall off a sick or dead tree. If the branch is large enough, it could fall on your children or pets, causing serious injuries. If a tree can’t hold its own weight, it becomes a hazard for anyone who might step under it.
5. They could topple over.
Trees suffering from illness and decay become liabilities. They could fall over and damage your home, or destroy a neighbor’s property. It could take a simple windstorm to knock the tree onto its side, getting you into serious problems. Not only will you have to remove the tree, but you might end up paying for damage in your neighbor’s yard. Prevent this by getting the tree out of the way first.
It’s tempting to put this off until you have more time, but there will be hefty consequences. The sick tree may have spent years quietly looming in family photos; once it’s infected, it’s going to make itself known. Prevent tragedy and inconvenience by removing the tree before it’s too late.
If you’re interested in tree trimming or stump removal try out Valley Tree Managers. They are a full service cactus, tree, and stump removal company who have been around for years!
June 20, 2016