Vancouver, British Columbia-based tree service professionals share when tree removal can be environmentally beneficial.
Five Situations Where Tree Removal Is Good For The Environment
Trees are incredibly important to the whole earth. The Amazon rainforest affects weather patterns all over the planet, and trees provide a good portion of the oxygen we breathe while reducing atmospheric carbon. These reasons, among others, are why ecologists have often focused on saving trees and preventing extreme deforestation.
However, there are cases in which removing trees is actually more helpful to the surrounding ecology. There are at least five primary scenarios where this is true, and each will be discussed in detail below.
Situation #1: Tree Damage
Many different disasters can damage trees and cause them to become less viable.
Some of the problems that can result in tree damage include:
- Lightning strikes
- Storm damage
- Wind damage
- Soil changes
- Root damage
A tree damaged in these ways may recover, but if the damage is too extensive, it is likely to die and be susceptible to other problems, such as pests and disease. Damage can make the tree dangerous for people and property, so it is perhaps best for a tree service company to remove it.
Situation #2: Tree Disease
Like animals, plants can carry viruses, bacteria, and fungal infections that can damage them and spread to other trees. Fungal diseases can run particularly rampant in moist places where dead wood is available for nutrient grabbing.
Armillaria root rot, for example, can affect over 200 different species of trees, both deciduous and evergreen, such as oaks, elms, and maples. Trees that are overrun by disease should be removed for the health of the trees around them.
Situation #3: Tree Pest Infestation
While animals, trees, and insects often have a direct symbiotic relationship, there are also those bugs that cause damage to plants and trees. Sometimes, proper tree care, such as tree trimming or tree pruning, can help prevent pests from overtaking a tree, but it often cannot be helped.
If the infestation is caught early, an arborist may be able to save the tree, but if the infestation has grown to damage the tree irreparably, it will need to be removed. The surrounding trees must also be treated to avoid a similar infestation.
Situation #4: Invasive Species
This is a particularly hot topic in arboriculture. Invasive species are often brought in innocently enough to decorate a garden, but once they take hold, they begin propagating and overtaking the territory of native plants, strangling them. Removing invasive species from your garden will benefit the whole area.
Below is a list of invasive trees in the BC area and what they can be replaced with.
- English Holly: It can be replaced with Oregon grape, Meserve holly, and red elderberry.
- Tree of Heaven: This ornamental tree can be replaced with a golden rain tree, an elderberry, or a tulip tree.
- Tamarisk Tree: This can be replaced by the Preston lilac or the Pacific ninebark among others.
Situation #5: Overcrowding
One important part of tree risk assessment and tree health care that arborists do is judge whether trees can thrive in their current space. If there are too many trees, it can affect the growth of all the trees and the other plants that grow in the area.
Over-propagation ends up being self-defeating, and no plants or trees do well. This can affect the soil composition as well. Overcrowding of trees can rob the soil of nutrients or one or two particular nutrients that certain trees need.
About VI Tree Service
Offering a 24-hour emergency response, VI Tree Service serves Vancouver, BC, Vancouver Island, and the surrounding areas. Call today for the company with over 50 years of experience and clear safety guidelines