Trees improve air quality, reduce stress, muffle sound pollution, and keep city streets cooler. Despite all these benefits, more trees are removed from urban settings than rural ones. We explain why below.
Public Safety
Conks — wood-rotting fungi that sometimes grow on a tree’s trunk or base — are one sign that a tree should probably be removed. Public safety is one of the top reasons for tree removal in urban areas. In addition to removing trees with signs of decay like these troublesome growths, tree removal is often the best solution when trees are dead, diseased, or leaning dangerously toward other homes or powerlines.
Severe Weather
Severe storms affect many urban areas, and they have caused billions of dollars in damage throughout the United States. Ice, hail, snow, rain, and other acts of nature can weaken trees or cause serious damage. Fallen trees are responsible for most of the power loss during severe storms, according to estimates by top U.S. power companies.
Natural Mortality
Natural mortality in urban areas is often caused by insects, disease, poor site maintenance, age, overcrowding (too many trees in a restricted space), or environmental causes. Other times, trees die for no clear reason. Whatever the reason for a tree dying in an urban area, it needs to be removed to prevent issues like tripping hazards or traffic obstacles.
Municipal Planning and Construction
According to World Population Review, about 228 billion trees exist in the United States, the fourth-most forested country. These include healthy urban trees. These trees are sometimes removed to make room for roads or other municipal projects. At other times, trees are blocking the view of the street. Private businesses sometimes remove trees for expansion or to create space for parking.
Harvesting
Trees aren’t usually harvested for their wood in urban areas. However, there are times when harvesting is done to remove dead or decaying trees with viable wood on municipal properties. Timber harvests have also been accomplished successfully throughout many states to manage forests and parklands.
Housing Development
Urban areas are rapidly growing throughout the United States, with more than 80% of the population now living in cities. Growing cities often need more space for houses and apartments, which means cutting down trees. Sometimes, the trees are replaced if there is room for new development. For instance, new home exteriors are often covered with new grass and trees to attract new buyers.
Contact us at Woodland Tree Services today to learn more about tree removal and the full range of services we offer in Plymouth, MN.
