Crabapple trees can be stunningly beautiful. Their white and pink flowers simply cover the branches. Later in the fall, their bright, red apples add a splash of color to your landscape. But here's the thing about crabapple trees: they can be hard to keep healthy. Some older varieties are very prone to fungal diseases, and some struggle with fragile and broken branches. As beautiful as crabapples can be, there are times when it may be best to have the crabapple tree removed from your property. Here are some of those instances.
The tree has developed a stubborn fungal infection.
Crabapple trees are often susceptible to apple scabs, a fungal disease that causes brown, crusty scabs to form on the apples. If you catch the disease early, spraying the tree with fungicides can often clear it. However, if you spray the tree several years in a row and the disease persists, your chances of getting rid of it go way down. You may wish to simply remove the tree rather than deal with the scabby apples, lesion-riddled leaves, and curled branches for years to come.
The same is the case with other fungal diseases, such as cedar apple blight and fire blight. Sometimes these diseases are treatable, but when treatment fails, you may simply want to remove the tree.
Cleaning up after the tree has become a burden.
The downside to all of those pretty flowers and apples is that eventually, they fall to the ground. You have to sweep them up, and doing so is important not only for the appearance of your landscape, but to keep pests and fungi from breeding within them. If cleaning up after the tree has become too much for you, then you may want to have the crabapple tree removed and replaced by a less demanding tree.
The tree is attracting a lot of bugs.
You'll see bees around the crabapple in the spring. They're essential for pollinating the flowers, and they don't really bug anyone. When the flowers and fruit set, though, you may see more flies and other insects coming to feed on any that start to rot and deteriorate. This really bothers some homeowners, especially if the tree is close to their home and results in bugs coming into their home. Removing the crabapple tree is often the most direct way to get rid of the insects.
If you think your crabapple tree may be best removed, contact a residential tree removal company. They can come and give you a quote, which may help inform your decision.
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