Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based tree service professionals share times when tree removal can be healthy for the environment.
The Positive Environmental Impact of Tree Removal
“Save the trees!” is often the cry of ecologists and arborists alike. It has long been known that trees reduce carbon, produce oxygen, and offer natural temperature regulation. They are acknowledged as very important to the environment in general and to the earth as a whole. There are, however, some times when the act of removing trees is more beneficial to the habitat or biome than leaving them there.
This article will discuss the times when removing a tree or trees is helpful.
Pest Infestation and Tree Disease
Like the flu and COVID among humans, trees can pass diseases to each other if they are close. Pests such as borers can also migrate from tree to tree, taking out whole groves. Sometimes, with proper tree care, a disease such as a bacteria or fungus can be eliminated before it moves to other trees, and that tree can be saved.
The same is true for certain pest infestations. If they can be taken care of before they kill the tree in question and are ready to spread, they can perhaps be saved. Some of the worst diseases and pests that can attack trees in Pennsylvania are included in the list below:
- Anthracnose
- Armillaria Root Rot
- Cankers(various causes)
- Eastern Tent Caterpillar
- Emerald Ash Borer
- Southern Pine Beetle
Invasive Species
Invasive species of trees can disrupt the natural ecosystem of an area and are better removed or at least very closely monitored by homeowners and a tree service company. The problem with invasive species is that they tend to overtake the natural flora in the biome, strangling them out of shared resources. Multiple species are of concern in PA, and it is fairly easy to find a list of these online.
Many trees, such as the paper mulberry and white mulberry, can hybridize with native trees (like the red mulberry) and cause serious problems with the cultivation of native species. Trees growing in the grassland biomes of the Midwest are causing the near extinction of some native grasses.
Damaged Trees
If storm damage or root damage has wreaked havoc on a tree, it is not always possible to save it, even with the best plant health care. If a certified arborist makes a tree risk assessment and the tree health is not good, this may mean tree removal is the best option. Damaged trees are susceptible to pest infestation and tree disease at the wound sites. Preventing the damage through routine tree care is the best way to keep trees from becoming damaged.
It cannot eliminate the possibility, but these tips can help keep trees the way they are supposed to be:
- Tree Pruning: Is when weak and excessively long branches are trimmed to maintain the tree’s health. This can prevent severe damage from high winds, though even pruning and trimming cannot prevent a lightning strike.
- Tree Health Care: Have your trees checked annually by a certified arborist. They can tell you how the soil is and anything that may need to be done for the tree. This may include fertilizer or sprays to treat pests or disease.
- Deep Watering: Make sure that the trees get plenty of water during the dry and hot times of the year. This makes for strong roots that can withstand the tests of extreme weather.
About Greater Pitt Tree Service
Serving the Greater Pittsburgh, PA Area, Greater Pitt Tree Service has been in business for more than 28 years and provides excellent tree care from trained and fully insured pros. Call today for residential or commercial tree services.