{"id":16837,"date":"2020-02-05T21:18:34","date_gmt":"2020-02-06T00:18:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/?p=16837"},"modified":"2025-05-27T17:20:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T20:20:10","slug":"signs-you-need-cut-down-your-tree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/virginia\/richmond-va\/signs-you-need-cut-down-your-tree\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Signs You Need to Cut Down Your Richmond Tree"},"content":{"rendered":"

It can be hard to say goodbye to a tree. The value they add to the landscape and your property is immense, and of course, it can be expensive and troublesome to remove them. But if a dead or diseased tree can\u2019t be saved, not removing it can lead to even more headaches. Other trees can become infected<\/a>, or the tree can fall, injuring someone or damaging your home.  Here are five signs you need to cut down a tree.<\/p>

Crown Dieback<\/h2>

Crown dieback is a symptom, not a disease. But it’s an indication your tree is dying. It\u2019s a visible sign of oak decline<\/a> if it’s an oak tree, especially if its an older tree, or it\u2019s in a crowded spot. Other species of tree can suffer from dieback too, and it’s often a sign the tree has significant health problems. It\u2019s also common in trees suffering from disease, insects or drought. If you have oaks that are dying, there is little you can do to save them. Oak decline is a natural part of the ecosystem, but you can hasten their removal. Oak wood is heavy, and can cause lots of damage to people, pets, or property if it comes crashing down. If you see the leaves thinning out or not growing, consider hiring professionals to remove the tree<\/a> in question.<\/p>

Beech Bark Disease<\/h2>
\"Beech
Beech bark disease. Credit: Plant Image Library<\/a>. CC by SA 3.0<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The American beech tree<\/a> is native to Virginia, but it\u2019s also susceptible to beech bark disease. The problem starts<\/a> with an insect called the beech scale. The insects create an entryway for the fungus to enter the tree, and as the infection grows worse, it kills the beech. Symptoms include a white waxy substance on the trees secreted by the insects and leaves that don\u2019t fully form and turn yellow in the summer. Another telltale sign is the bright orange color of the fungus when you cut away the bark. Pesticides and fungicides may help control the bark disease, but it\u2019s tricky and expensive. Your best bet may be removing the affected trees and replacing them.<\/p>

Botryosphaeria Fungus<\/h2>
\"Botryosphaeria
Botryosphaeria rho, CC by SA 3.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\"Dr.
Dr. Elizabeth Bush<\/figcaption><\/figure>

If you spot discolored and peeling bark on your trees, your trees may be infected with one of several species of the fungus Botryosphaeria. It can also look like wilted or dying branches on a tree that looks fine otherwise. The fungus will attack any of dozens of tree species, from apple trees to zelkova, and it especially likes dead wood.<\/p>

The best way to fight the fungus is by keeping your trees healthy and low stress, and removal may be the best way to protect other trees. \u201cThere are no effective fungicide controls for botryosphaeria dieback. The best defense against this common disease is to make sure your trees are healthy by giving them the right amount of water and nutrients. It\u2019s also important to avoid plant stress and injury,\u201d said Elizabeth Bush<\/a>, an extension plant pathologist at the Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences.<\/p>

Thousand Cankers Disease<\/h2>
\"Thousand
Thousand cankers disease. Credit: Jeffrey Beall<\/a>, CC by SA 2.0<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

This infection is as dire as it sounds. If you spot black cankers, your tree starts to die quickly, and you see visible tunnels, it\u2019s probably thousand cankers disease,<\/a> a tree disease confirmed in Virginia. A quarantine issued in 2011 has since expired, but tree experts ask property owners in Virginia to keep an eye out for its reappearance. The disease is caused by a fungus that grows around the pupal chamber of a certain kind of beetle. The beetles then tunnel into the tree, creating the canker. If there are enough cankers, it will kill the tree.<\/p>

Emerald Ash Borer Damage<\/h2>
\"Emerald
Emerald ash borer. Credit: USDA<\/a>, CC by ND 2.0<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

If your ash trees show signs of emerald ash borer damage, your best method of control is to remove it and replace it with a tree of a different species. The emerald ash borer was first detected in the U.S. in Michigan in the early 2000s, and since then, it has spread and devastated ash trees across the country. The city of Richmond Department of Forestry confirmed the presence<\/a> of the emerald ash borer inside city limits in 2019.<\/p>

Signs of Emerald Ash Borer Damage<\/h2>

Signs of EAB damage<\/a> include:<\/p>