Which Trees To Keep And Which Trees To Cut Down
Posted on: 10 June 2015
When you admire your landscape, you likely inspect all your trees and wonder which ones you should keep and which ones you should cut down. There are many reasons for removing a tree from your yard, including a tree's placement, its health, and even its attractiveness. Knowing which trees to keep and which ones to cut down can be a big decision, but this guide can help you decide how to manage your tree growth best.
Placement of trees
Trees in most homes serve a purpose of privacy and shade with their foliage. They should be placed away from the home so they don't blow over on top of your roof in the event of a major storm. Inspect where your trees are located and what purpose they serve where they are. Are they placed along your fence line, and do they provide privacy when they are in full bloom? Do they supply an ample amount of shade in the middle of your yard? Are they placed far enough away from your home and power lines that they won't cause property damage if they were to blow over? If you can't answer any of these questions positively, then you may want to consider removing trees that aren't placed well.
Health of trees
Ideally, your trees should not have a high root structure. Trees with roots exposed above ground may have a poor foundation, and can easily blow over in a storm. They should also not have any branches that appear dead or dying. A sign of dead or dying branches include:
- low or no leaf growth
- dying leaves
- sucker branches sprouting off naked branches.
These branches should be removed if there are only a few. If half your tree appears to be lacking healthy growth, it can be a sign of disease in the roots, and the tree should be removed.
Attraction of trees
You may have trees that pose more of a nuisance than anything else. You may not like the many pine cones that fall off your pine trees, or the seeds that blow into your yard from certain species, such as maple. A tree may also look unattractive to you based on the direction it grows or the type of leaves it produces. If you don't like a tree based solely on how it looks or what it requires to maintain, you may want to consider tree removal.
A landscaper or arbor expert can help you decide if any of your trees need to be removed from your property. While you may love your trees, some of them may be causing more harm than good, and knowing which ones to keep and which ones to cut down can help you enjoy your landscape much more.
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