Trees are a wonderful part of a landscape. They add beauty, they add privacy and they provide shade. However, while trees definitely offer a number of benefits, when they are dead, they can cause a host of problems.

Whether a tree on your property is dying because it has been struck by lightning or it has died as a result of age, having the tree removed is extremely important. Why? Here’s a look at five very good reasons.

It attracts pests
A dead tree is extremely attractive to pests. Termites, carpenter ants and other wood boring insects will seek out the tree and set up shop in it. These bugs will quickly multiply, which means that other trees or even your house could be in danger of being infested. Additionally, animals may seek out the tree and nest in it. Rats are known to create nests in dead trees, and when a rats are in your dead tree, they’ll eventually invade your home to find food and additional shelter.

It could fall
A dead tree isn’t strong, which means that there is more of a possibility that it will fall over. There’s no telling when a dead tree will topple over, but it’s a pretty safe bet that it will fall at some point. When it does fall, it could land on your house, your neighbor’s house, your fence or on any other piece of property resulting in a costly emergency tree service. There’s also a possibility that it could fall on someone, causing serious injury. In the event that that dead tree does fall and do damage, you are liable for the repairs or the medical care that may be needed as a result.

It costs less to remove it now
When a tree is dead, its structural integrity is compromised. A gust of wind could blow and as a result, those dead branches could fall off. When a branch does fall, it could land on top of a car, a fence, a roof or even a person or an animal. The damage or injury that may result could be catastrophic. Having a tree removed before it falls could save you a ton of money.

It could impact other trees
If a disease killed the tree, the rest of the trees in your yard could be impacted. Tree disease is contagious. For instance, if mildew or mold develops on the tree, it could spread to the other trees and plants in your yard. As a result, your entire landscape could be destroyed by that one single dead tree in your yard.

They’re not pretty
Dead trees just aren’t attractive. You want your yard to look as visually appealing as possible. When you have a tree that doesn’t have leaves, has branches falling off of it and bark is peeling off, the aesthetic appeal of your yard is automatically impacted. When the curb appeal of your home is impacted, your property could lose value, which could hit you in your pocket if you’re thinking about selling.

Given these five reasons, having that dead tree removed from your property is an absolute must.