After a long and extremely hot summer, the trees in your yard might be looking worse for wear. You may even be wondering if it’s time to remove them. But in many cases, tree removal isn’t necessary and saving your trees can offer lasting value.
We’ll share six reasons to consider saving your trees in Southeastern Pennsylvania and how a professional tree care team can help.
Key Takeaways
- Tree preservation is far more affordable than removal, with treatments like pruning and fertilization costing significantly less than the equipment and labor required to take a tree down.
- Healthy trees provide substantial financial returns by reducing cooling costs up to 35% and increasing property values by 3–15%.
- Mature trees provide long-lasting environmental benefits – like cooling rising temperatures, preventing soil erosion, and reducing urban heat – that take decades to replace.
- Professional treatments like disease control and fertilization can save struggling trees.
- A professional arborist assessment is essential for determining whether we can save a stressed tree or if it requires removal.
6 Reasons to Save a Tree Rather Than Remove It
At Clauser Tree Care, we believe in saving trees whenever it’s safe and practical to do so. Preserving a struggling tree not only protects the investment you’ve already made – it also allows you to continue enjoying the many benefits healthy trees bring to your property.
IMPORTANT: While we aim to preserve trees whenever possible, safety comes first. If a tree poses a risk to your home or family, removal may be the best – and only – option.
1. Preservation Costs Less Than Removal
We understand that budgets can be tight; this is why we try to save trees whenever possible. Tree removal is often costly for several reasons:
- Danger of tree removal
- Large crew size needed
- Specialized equipment required
- Time to complete the job
Tree preservation services, like pruning and fertilization, are far more affordable than the high labor, equipment, and risk costs of removal.
2. Healthy Trees Help Fight Rising Urban Heat
Have you noticed hotter summers in Pennsylvania lately? You’re not alone. Research indicates that Pennsylvania summer temperatures have increased by approximately 1.8 degrees in recent years. Scientists project this trend will continue.
Urban and suburban areas feel this heat even more due to concrete and asphalt surfaces that hold heat at night, when temperatures are supposed to drop. In places like Bucks and Montgomery counties, maintaining healthy trees is one of the most effective ways homeowners can help cool their surroundings.
Trees in residential areas and commercial properties play a critical role in reducing the urban heat island effect.
3. Trees Can Lower Your Summer Energy Bills
Trees keep temperatures lower outside, and they can also help control heat inside your home.
Trees planted on the east, northwest, and western sides of your home create ample shade, reducing direct sunlight on your house. Strategic tree placement can reduce your summer cooling costs by 35%.
Removing trees that shade your home puts a greater burden on your air conditioning and increases your electricity bill.
4. Mature Trees Add Beauty and Curb Appeal
We believe mature, healthy trees make your property more attractive. That’s because trees add natural character to your property. They also attract local wildlife, like birds and small mammals, giving you a slice of forest in a residential setting. And ornamental trees produce beautiful flowers that make your yard stand out in spring.
You can replace a removed tree with the same species, but it will take years before the sapling looks as good as a mature tree.
5. Trees Help Prevent Soil Erosion
Soil erosion in Pennsylvania remains a significant issue, especially during heavy rainstorms. Runoff can wash away valuable topsoil and fertilizer, polluting waterways and overwhelming drainage systems. While erosion can’t be eliminated entirely, healthy trees play a critical role in reducing it.
Tree roots help anchor soil in place, especially during rainfall. In fact, mature root systems often stretch two to three times beyond the width of a tree’s canopy, creating a broad, stabilizing network underground.
When a tree is removed and its roots begin to decompose, that underground support disappears. Without it, the soil becomes more vulnerable to erosion during storms and flash flooding
6. Mature Trees Boost Property Value
Did you know that mature trees increase your property value? There’s no exact formula for how much an individual tree adds to your home’s value. But research suggests that homes with larger trees have 3–15% higher value.
When you jump to remove a mature tree on your property, you’re costing yourself money in the short and long term. It takes decades for a new sapling to grow and provide the same value as your mature trees. Work with an arborist to determine if there’s any way to save your existing trees.
Frequently Asked Questions About Preserving Trees
At Clauser Tree Care, we’re here to be your trusted partner in tree care, helping you better understand the trees on your property. To do that, we’ve answered common questions homeowners have about tree preservation and why we save trees rather than remove every struggling one.
What are some ways to preserve trees in Southeastern Pennsylvania?
We use several methods to save mature, unhealthy, and stressed trees in Pennsylvania:
- Provide insect and disease treatments
- Offer regular fertilization to correct nutrient deficiencies
- Reduce soil compaction
- Recommend proper watering and mulching to reduce stress
Can tree preservation save all trees?
No, our tree preservation services can’t save all trees. Some are simply too far gone to recover. When a tree is dead or severely declining, it often becomes a safety hazard, making removal the only responsible option.
Should I plant a new tree after removing the old one?
Yes, if you must remove a tree because it’s unhealthy or dead, we recommend planting another one to offset the loss. Choosing a similar type to the one removed helps maintain the balance of your landscape. For large shade trees, consider options like oak, maple, or birch to replace the canopy coverage.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late – Get Your Trees the Help They Need Today
With all the benefits of keeping trees in your yard, you can’t afford to wait to schedule professional tree services. Want to give your stressed trees the best chance to thrive? Trust the experts at Clauser Tree Care for your tree preservation needs.
Our team will carefully assess your trees to identify what’s causing stress or decline, then create a customized treatment plan to restore their health. With the right care, many trees can recover and continue thriving, saving you money and helping you avoid unnecessary removal. Call us today at 215-542-8291 or request a quote for tree preservation services.
About Clauser Tree Care
From who you talk to on the phone in our office, to our courteous and experienced work crews who provide your service, all of the hard-working team members at Clauser Tree Care strive for complete client satisfaction. Our job is simply not done until you are pleased with the experience that you have had working with our company. Founded more than 25 years ago on the principles of honest work and arboricultural best practices, we strive for a higher standard of care for a greener future.
