Tree Removal: When To Cut Down

Posted on: 7 July 2022

Tree removal is a big decision and something that should be thought about before you take the plunge. If a tree is very sick, then it needs to come down immediately, but healthy trees can live for hundreds of years, so you are making a long-standing investment when cutting one down. That being said, you may need to cut one down for several reasons.

Preventative Care and Safety

Trees help protect your home from flooding and other natural disasters. They also shade your house, keeping it cooler in the summer while providing warmth in the winter. The roots of a tree help prevent erosion and soil erosion around your house, which reduces the likelihood of flooding. Also, felling a large tree can be dangerous work because the trunk may not fall where you expect it to go, which could result in damage to the house or other property.

Lack of Aesthetics

You should consider when deciding whether or not to cut down a tree how it affects your yard's aesthetics. If the tree is old or if its branches hang too low over your house, then cutting it down may be beneficial for both the health of your yard and its overall appearance. In addition, if there are cracks in your sidewalk or driveway because of an old tree's roots, then you might want to get rid of them before more damage occurs.

Allergies

Allergies are a common reason for tree removal. Trees can produce airborne allergens that irritate the respiratory system and cause symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, sinus congestion, and coughing. Other times, the pollen from trees may trigger an allergic reaction in some people.

Not all species of trees are equally likely to cause allergies or trigger reactions in individuals who suffer from them. Some trees produce more allergens than others; others may generate fewer allergens but release them earlier or later in the year than other species do.

Pests

Trees that are infested with pests like termites or beetles can be dangerous to the health of your home and family. It's best to remove these trees before they start wreaking havoc on your property. Diseases might be another issue that you need to deal with. Trees can be affected by disease and might need to be removed to contain the problem.

Rooftop Interference

When you're dealing with tree removal, the first thing to consider is whether or not to cut down the tree. In general, if the tree is interfering with your roof or other structures around your home, it's time to cut it down.

In most cases, when trees come into contact with homes or other buildings, it's because they've grown too tall for their own good. In some cases, homeowners may have planted them too close to their property line or built their house too close to a tree line without taking into account how much room they would need in order to grow. While this can cause problems down the road, there are ways to prevent these issues before they occur.

Storm Damage or Rot

When trees get damaged in storms or other severe weather, it's probably a good idea to cut them down. This is especially true if there are broken branches or limbs hanging over your house or other buildings. Some property insurance policies will cover having the tree looked at by an arborist to decide whether or not it can be saved. 

If the damage was caused by rot, you'll probably want to take the tree down as soon as possible. The longer rot goes unchecked, the more likely it will spread to other trees and cause them to die too.

If a tree is very sick, then it needs to come down immediately, but healthy trees can live for hundreds of years, so you are making a long-standing investment when cutting one down.

For more information, contact a company like American Quality Tree Services.

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