What To Do With A Dead Tree In Your Yard
Posted on: 1 June 2019
It can be heartbreaking to a homeowner to watch a beautiful tree in their yard decline and begin to die. Not only will it affect the appearance of your yard, you also have to decide what to do with the dead tree. The following will provide some options for handling this situation.
Wildlife habitat
A dead tree provides important habitat for wildlife. Insects make these trees their home. Then, woodpeckers feed upon the insects. Birds and small mammals also often nest in dead trees. Of course, you should only keep the dead tree as habitat if you don't mind having it on your property and it is placed well away from any structures. If the tree is still firmly rooted, you can leave it as standing deadwood for birds. If it poses a fall danger, then you can leave the trunk on the ground for insects, small animals, and ground-nesting birds. For safety's sake, have a tree service remove the branches and assess the roots before you decide to leave it standing.
Mulch
Wood mulch is an effective and attractive way to prevent weeds and conserve moisture in ornamental garden beds. Unfortunately, mulch can be expensive. If you have a dead tree, you have a source of nearly free mulch. Most tree services have onsite wood chippers they will bring to your home when they are taking down the tree. This allows them to mulch the tree right there and leave it for you to use in your gardens. You may need to request this service, as some services do not automatically leave the mulch unless they are asked to do so.
Firewood
If you have a fireplace or wood stove, then you are probably always on the lookout for cheap or free wood. While having a tree removed by a professional tree service isn't free, it does result in a large amount of wood. A service will gladly leave the fallen tree behind at your request. If this is your goal for the dead tree, you need to make plans to prepare the firewood. You will either have to saw the tree into smaller lengths and then split it into burnable logs, or you must arrange for someone else to do so. Fortunately, many tree services also provide firewood services, which means they will prepare the tree for firewood. Your only job is to stack the wood so it can season for a year or so before burning.
For more help, contact a tree service in your area.
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