Why Would Anyone

Cut a Tree Down?

by Roberta Burzynski

Illustrations by Juliette Watts

Why Would Anyone

Cut a Tree Down?
ii
1

Why Would Anyone

Cut a Tree Down?

by Roberta Burzynski

Illustrations by Juliette Watts
USDA Forest Service

Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

11 Campus Boulevard, Suite 200

Newtown Square, PA 19073

www.na.fs.fed.us

NA–IN–01–12

February 2013

USDA is an equal opportunity

employer and provider.

Preface

While giving presentations about trees, I have been impressed by students’ knowledge of the benefits and 

products that trees provide. On the other hand, I have been surprised when students blurt out that you can never 

cut a tree down. To bridge this gap in knowledge and understanding, I wrote this book. 

In taking care of forests, towns, or backyards, it is sometimes necessary and even helpful to cut trees down. 

This book is meant to introduce everyone from elementary students to adults to different reasons that foresters 

and arborists might cut trees down. 

Sometimes a tree needs to come down because people did not care for it properly. So, the back of this book 

includes some basics of tree care and places to get more information. 

I hope this book helps you see that, in caring for forests and trees and meeting people’s needs, cutting a tree 

down is not always a bad thing.

—Roberta Burzynski

Acknowledgments

A world of thanks goes to the many people, too numerous to name, who helped with this book in a variety of 

ways—developing the concepts, reviewing drafts, ensuring accuracy of the text and illustrations, planning the 

marketing, arranging for printing, and creating the related materials and Web site. Your time and talents are 

very much appreciated. Last but not least, we both thank Roberta’s aunt for her constant support and gentle 

encouragement that kept us going.

—R.B., J.W.
Why would anyone cut a tree down? 

Trees do terrific things

for the land and air,

water and wildlife,

and for you. 

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5

Trees give you shade and oxygen.

They soften loud noises.
6

Trees slow the 

wind and keep 

the soil from 

sliding away.

They clean the 

air and water.
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10

Trees make food, like acorns and apples. 

Living and dead trees provide homes for wildlife.
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Seeing trees makes you feel better.
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Planting trees can help you celebrate or remember.
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So, why would anyone cut a tree down?
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16
17

Trees grow. Trees can get sick

and develop problems. Trees get 

old and die, like all living things. 

And trees are made of wood.

So, to take care of forests

and towns, to keep people safe,

and to get wood, people cut

some trees down. We may not

want to, but sometimes we need to.
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19

Some trees have defects or become damaged.

Defective and damaged trees can be dangerous.

Taking down dangerous trees keeps you safe.
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21

Some trees get sick.

Sick trees may make 

other trees sick too.

Removing sick trees

may help other trees

stay healthy.
A forest of trees can catch and spread fire.

Trees that are too close to a house in the woods 

can create a fire hazard.
Removing some trees helps to keep

a woodland home safe from wildfire.
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Some trees grow too close to one another. They may be so 

close that none of them gets enough sun, water, or nutrients.

Plants underneath the trees may not grow well.
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Removing some trees champions other trees and gives them 

more room to grow and thrive. Forests are healthier and produce 

more food for wildlife.
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Trees are made of wood, 

and wood is made into 

things you use.

Harvesting some trees 

allows you to have things 

made from wood.
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People need to cut some trees down,

but that is not the end of the story.
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Things made of wood can last a long time,

and you can use them over and over again.
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Insects and other organisms turn toppled trees

into new soil that helps other trees grow.
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Some tree stumps send up new shoots and grow again.
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Some tree seeds sprout into new trees.
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You can plant a new tree and

take good care of it.
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Trees are 

renewable!

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A Note to Parents and Educators About Caring for Trees

Sometimes a tree needs to come down 

because people did not care for it 

properly. So here are basics of tree care, 

and resources for more information.

Taking down dangerous trees 

There are several signs that a tree is 

getting weak and may fall—dead wood, 

cracks, decay, cankers, root problems, 

poor form, and weak branch unions with 

the trunk. These problems are shown in 

How to Recognize Hazardous Defects 

in Trees, by the Minnesota Department 

of Natural Resources and USDA Forest 

Service (http://na.fs.fed.us/pubs/detail.

cfm?id=927). Even trees with these 

defects are not considered dangerous, or 

hazardous, unless the falling tree would hit 

a building, vehicle, or place where people 

often gather or walk. Pruning the tree may 

correct the problem, or the tree may need 

to be cut down. Many hazardous defects 

can be avoided by correctly planting and 

pruning young trees. For proper pruning 

techniques, see How to Prune Trees, by 

Bedker, O’Brien, and Mielke (www.na.fs.

fed.us/pubs/detail.cfm?id=2602); and 

the animated Tree Pruning Guide on the 

Arbor Day Foundation Web site:

www.arborday.org/trees/pruning/. 

Removing sick trees 

Insects and diseases that were 

accidentally introduced from other 

countries can cause serious tree health 

problems. Because these pests have 

no natural enemies in this country, they 

can multiply rapidly and damage trees. 

Removing and destroying infested trees 

may reduce the numbers of pests and 

keep them from attacking other trees. 

Oak wilt disease, Dutch elm disease, and 

Asian longhorned beetle are some of the 

pests that make it necessary to remove 

infested trees. Not all infested trees need 

to be cut down. Insects and diseases that 

are a natural part of a forest usually do 

not cause problems as serious as those 

caused by introduced pests; however, 

even native pests, like bark beetles, can 

suddenly increase in number and kill 

trees. For help identifying tree pests, 

contact your State Forestry office or your 

county Cooperative Extension Service. 

Removing flammable trees 

Trees, shrubs, and ground cover plants 

provide fuel that can feed a wildfire. If 

a home is surrounded by flammable 

vegetation, removing the vegetation 

creates a safety zone that helps protect 

the home from wildfire. A building on a 

steep hill needs a wider safety zone than 

one on a gentle hill or flat land. Many 

plants naturally resist fire and will keep 

it from spreading. For more information 

on using fire-resistant plants in Firewise 

landscaping, visit the National Fire 

Protection Association Web site:

www.firewise.org.
39

Cutting down crowded trees 

In the woods, if the tops of trees touch, 

then they are competing with each other 

for sunlight, water, and nutrients. And 

if the trees are over 25 feet tall, cutting 

some of them will help the remaining 

trees grow. A forester should decide 

which trees to cut. The cut trees can often 

be used for wood products. If the wood 

cannot be used or sold, then there are a 

couple of other options. The trees can be 

killed by girdling (cutting into the bark in 

a continuous band around the tree trunk) 

and left standing for wildlife homes, or 

they can be cut down and left on the 

ground to decompose and recycle their 

nutrients. In cities and towns, trees may 

outgrow their planting space and interfere 

with buildings, utilities, driveways, or 

walkways. To learn the size of trees at 

maturity before you plant them, use the 

Tree Guide (www.arborday.org/trees/

treeguide/index.cfm) or the Right Tree, 

Right Place Guide (www.arborday.org/

trees/righttreeandplace/), both on the 

Arbor Day Foundation’s Web site. Be sure 

to pick the right spot and the right tree, 

then plant it right, as shown in the planting 

diagram on page 40.

Using wood from cut trees 

Trees that need to be cut because they 

are crowded, sick, or pose a hazard can 

often be used for wood products. The 

most common products are veneer, 

boards, fence posts, and firewood. 

Black walnut, red and white oak, sugar 

maple, and black cherry trees with a 

straight trunk 20 inches or more across 

can provide thin sheets of veneer for 

furniture. Trees with a straight trunk 12 

inches or more across can be cut into 

boards. Trees that are naturally resistant 

to decay and insect attack—such as 

cedar, cypress, redwoods, and white 

oak—make good fence posts. Trees that 

are crooked, badly shaped, infested with 

pests, crowd more desirable trees, or 

have died and fallen to the ground are 

good for firewood. Local artists may be 

interested in unusually shaped logs or 

stumps that can be made into unique 

wood creations. Remember not to move 

firewood over distances, so you do not 

spread invasive insects that may be in the 

wood. To locate wood markets besides 

commercial sawmills, contact the State 

Forestry Office, manufacturers of portable 

sawmills, State-wide craft organizations, 

county Cooperative Extension Service, or 

Resource Conservation and Development 

(RC&D) council. 

Much of this information was taken from 

these Tip Sheets: Help your preferred trees 

grow, Identify and manage hazardous 

defects in your trees, Keep your woods 

healthy, Protect your property from 

wildfire, Generate wood products. 

The National Arbor Day Foundation. 

Nebraska City, NE. www.arborday.org/

backyardwoods/ (link: Download tip 

sheets) (1 November 2010). 
40

Pick the right spot and the right tree, then plant it right.

Choose a site and consider the sun exposure, moisture, soil, wind, and salt exposure.

Choose a tree that is suited to the site and will have enough space for its branches 

and roots when fully grown.

Dig a hole 2–3 times wider and no deeper than the roots. Expose the root collar—

the place where the trunk meets the roots. Remove container or rope and wire 

basket, and cut off any roots that circle the root ball. 

Place the tree in the hole and push the top of 

the burlap down so it rests on the bottom of the 

hole. Put the soil back in, up to the level of the 

root collar. 

Add mulch 2–3 inches deep over the 

planting area making sure it does not 

touch the trunk.

Water deeply and regularly during the first year.

Prune only if necessary to remove

damaged branches.

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3

4

5

6

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Planting to Remember

Rod Whiteman and Dan Snider

Family, friends, and coworkers planted 215 trees in 

memory of Forest Service workers, Rod Whiteman and 

Dan Snider, who—along with pilot Patrick Jessup—lost 

their lives on the job, on June 21, 2010. This planting 

at Fort Necessity National Battlefield in Fayette County, 

PA, will serve as a memorial to these dedicated public 

servants, for decades to come.

Kathy Cellucci

The sixth grade class at Tatem Elementary School

in Collingswood, NJ, lost their beloved teacher,

Mrs. Kathy Cellucci, in November 2007. The following 

spring, students, family, and friends planted a tree on 

the school grounds to honor her. Pages 12 and 13 in 

this book capture that memorial gathering.


Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

11 Campus Boulevard, Suite 200

Newtown Square, PA 19073

www.na.fs.fed.us

NA–IN–01–12

February 2013