Dead or dying trees are weak and brittle. As time passes, they grow even weaker as pests, disease, and weather take their toll. And a weakened tree, especially a large one, can become a hazard.
Don't wait until spring to remove a dead or dying tree on your property. There are several good reasons to remove the tree in winter.
1. The Weight of Snow and Ice Can Snap Branches
As a tree dies, its branches dry out and become brittle. And once the snow and ice of winter arrive, this could become a serious concern. If snow settles on your tree's dead and dying branches, those branches may not be able to withstand the weight. As a result, on a snowy day, the weight of the snow could bring dead branches crashing to the ground.
If your tree is close to your home, falling branches could damage your roof, siding, and windows. You also are at risk when you spend time outside your house. If you plan to build a snowman with your kids, for instance, you don't want dead branches laden with snow looming overhead.
If you remove your tree early in winter, you remove a safety hazard.
2. Your Garden Won't Suffer as Much Damage During a Winter Removal
During tree removal, the removal team will often bring in machinery and tools to remove a tree. This can damage the ground around your tree and any plants and landscaping in the area. And if the tree is especially large, the soil could become impacted. Tree and plant roots struggle to grow in impacted soil. This is why spring or summer tree removal can be a problem.
Winter tree removal, when the ground is hard and your plants have gone dormant, will have the least impact on your yard and garden.
3. The Tree's Structure Will Be Easier to Assess
When a tree's canopy is in full or even in partial bloom in spring or summer, assessing it before removal can be difficult. This means that the removal will take longer since the leaves of the foliage reduce visibility. Even a dying tree will still have some foliage during any other season except late fall and winter.
During winter, a tree removal expert can easily plan the removal, as they will clearly be able to see the entire structure of the tree.
4. You'll Have Time to Redesign Your Yard Before Spring
Removing a large tree will have a big impact on your yard. With the shade of the tree no longer present, any shade-loving perennials in your garden will suffer when the sunnier months arrive. Fortunately, if you remove your dead tree early in winter, you'll have time to redesign your garden. You can then plan to relocate shade-loving plants.
You might also want to replace the lost shade if you plan to use your yard for social gatherings next summer. And a winter removal will give you the time you need to start planning for an additional structure, such as a pergola.
5. You Can Prevent Pests From Infesting the Tree in Spring
If your sick tree dies during the winter, the pests that come out during spring will happily feed on your tree and breed within it. In the wild, this is a natural process. But in your yard, the last thing you need is for termites, woodborers, and carpenter ants to move into your dead or dying tree. They could eventually move into your home.
Removing your dead or dying tree in winter will prevent pests from infesting it come spring.
Do you have a dead or dying tree in your yard in St. Louis, MO? Then consider the benefits of a winter tree removal when your garden is dormant and the pests are yet to emerge. Call Baumann Tree today, and we'll remove your dead tree so that it doesn't become a problem in the near future.
