You have big plans for your property. You might want a vegetable garden filled with vines, or perhaps you envision a colorful flower bed to attract pollinators and the eyes of passersby. However, there’s an old tree in the middle of your lawn you no longer want as part of your landscape. Do you know the best time of year to remove trees? Tree Care Inc. offers reputable tree service in Louisville, KY, and explains the pros and cons of each season below.
The Pros and Pitfalls of Tree Removal Services Throughout the Seasons
Removing a tree, especially an otherwise healthy one, is rarely an easy decision. However, the removal service often helps you open your property to new, more useful developments. But choosing the right time for the service can be tricky.
Spring Means Fresh Growth That Attracts Pollinators
Many trees, especially deciduous species, awaken after long winter slumbers during spring. They grew fresh leaves and blossoms that may attract beneficial bugs, like bees, butterflies, and birds. If the tree is already in bloom, it likely supports these creatures and contributes to the pollination of other trees, plants, and shrubs for miles.
Some property owners might remove their unwanted specimens in spring because branches have just started budding. However, spring is not the best time of year to remove trees. Consider leaving it for the rest of the growing season to support your property’s ecosystem.
Summer Is Often the Busy Season
Most trees lose their blooms by late spring or early summer. Pollen season has ended by this point, which means the specimen marked for removal doesn’t actively contribute to pollination. However, it may still provide a cornerstone for many beneficial local wildlife to feed and reproduce.
Plus, countless property owners schedule removal services because of the warm, sunny days summer brings. When demand rises, it takes prices with it. Plus, crews must grapple against trees with dense foliage which can reduce branch visibility and make their jobs more difficult.
Autumn Comes With Rain and Wind
Leaves drop and the weather cools significantly during Lexington autumns. However, this season may bring unpredictable weather with rain, wind, and occasional storms. Some Kentucky localities might even see snow in mid to late fall.
The dropping foliage enables removal crews to see their work more clearly. Plus, the trees in question are about to go dormant, which means they don’t contribute as much to the populations of beneficial insects. Fall is better than the other two seasons, but it still isn’t quite the best.
Winter Means Tree Dormancy
Once winter begins, non-evergreen trees have officially “gone to sleep” until spring. They aren’t actively growing above-ground structures, like branches, trunk wood, or leaves. The only obstacle your tree service team faces is the frozen ground, which only affects stump grinding and removal.
Most property owners save their outdoor endeavors for warmer weather, so you’ll likely pay less for your tree services during the dormant season. These reasons make winter the best time of year to remove trees.
Winter Is the Best Time of Year To Remove Trees
Does winter tree removal come with any particular benefits besides a lower tree removal cost?
- Cleaner logistics: Removal teams can more easily navigate around leafless trees. They can reach the area with their equipment with less fuss.
- Easier disassembly: Crew members can see the tree’s structure more clearly without foliage. When they remove trees, they kind of disassemble them branch by branch which requires an open line of sight.
- Better surfacing for heavy equipment: Tree removal machinery is often heavy and cumbersome. In warm months, it can destroy your lawn, but the frozen ground enables it to move more easily.
- Faster removal times: Fewer obstacles and simpler maneuvering means the service shouldn’t take long to complete. Less time on the job also contributes to lower service prices.
- Less tree disease and infestation spreading: One of the problems with summer tree removals is that many pests are active. They can quickly jump to a new host and spread their population faster than in winter.
- Client convenience: You’ll likely have your pick of service times during winter. During the growing season, however, there might not be much flexibility with scheduling.
Although winter is the best time of year to remove trees, you might face a mandatory removal under unforeseen circumstances. When should you not wait for prime removal time?
Don’t Wait Till Winter for Emergency Removals
Sometimes, a specimen poses an active threat against a property or even people, warranting an emergency tree removal service overseen by a certified arborist. But how can you identify a tree emergency on your property?
- Tree damaged following a storm: A lightning-struck or wind-blown tree is no longer safe to stay on your property. It could fall at a moment’s notice or attract new pests and diseases to your property.
- Specimens too close to power lines and other structures: Any tree that grows too close for comfort is a threat, even if it is generally healthy. If a particularly powerful storm moves through your area of Kentucky, it could knock branches onto your rooftop, vehicle, or driveway.
- Noticeably unsound trunks or roots: Check the trunk for a lean, rotting wood, or large cavity. You should also see whether the roots look bound to the ground.
- Thriving pest or fungal population: If your tree has already become a host for known pests, like the spotted lanternfly, you should contact an arborist for immediate removal and pest mitigation.
Urgent situations like the ones listed above call for action any time of year, not just winter. Don’t wait until the dormant season to deal with these risks.
Discuss a Tree Removal Plan With Tree Care Inc. in Louisville, Kentucky
Now that you know winter is the best time of year to remove trees read about choosing a tree service near you. If you live in Louisville, Kentucky, call 502-326-3661 to work with a certified arborist at Tree Care Inc.
