Technology Makes Landscaping Easier Than Ever

What To Expect When You Have A Tree Removed

26 February 2017

Jose Wheeler

If you have a dying tree in your yard, it's best to have it removed as soon as possible before a storm knocks it over. When you look at the tree, notice its natural curve. If it leans toward your house or over your cars, then you definitely want to remove it from your yard so it doesn't damage your valuable investments. If it leans towards your neighbor's house, you could face legal trouble and huge expenses if the tree falls and causes damage. Cutting down a tree is always dangerous, but it's even more so when the tree is dying and unstable. It's best to call a professional to do the job. Here is an overview of how the process works.

The Initial Assessment

The first step is to get a quote for the work. This requires a visual inspection of the tree to determine its health and the direction of its natural fall. If the tree has dead limbs, they may not be safe to climb. If the natural fall is over a fence or other object, you may need to remove the fence or the contractor may need to adapt the felling process. All these factors are taken into consideration so you get an accurate quote for the job. Just don't wait to call until a big storm is on the way. The contractor will probably need advance notice to schedule the work, and the crew won't work in bad weather because it increases the risk of injury.

Limbs Are Cut Away First

When the work starts, the crew will cut away smaller limbs first. These are fed into a chipper and made into mulch for recycling. If you need mulch in your yard, the crew can dump the wood chips in your driveway so you can spread them around later. Just make sure you don't keep the mulch if your tree has a disease that can be spread through using the chips. When the large limbs are cut from the tree, these are usually stacked in your yard until they can be hauled away. That's because they are too large for a mobile chipper. The tree pieces are handled with heavy machinery such as a grapple truck and tractor. For that reason, you'll need to clear your yard, driveway, and street in front of your house as best possible so the crew can access your tree from the street.

The Trunk Is Felled Or Cut Away

Your contractor will decide on the best way to deal with the trunk of the tree. If you live in the city, there probably isn't enough space to fell the tree from the base. Instead, the contractor will chop it down in sections. The sections may fall to the ground or be guided down with ropes and chains. The large sections of the trunk are added to the pile of limbs to be hauled away when the process is complete. The wood will be recycled when possible so it doesn't go to waste.

The Last Step Is Stump Grinding

You may decide to leave the stump in place. You'll save money if you do, but you'll have an ugly stump to look at for years to come. If you want to get the stump out of your yard, you can have the contractor grind it away. This involves using a machine that chews up the wood and turns it into tiny chips or sawdust all the way to the ground and a few inches below. This may not be completed on the same day because you may need to have utility lines marked first since grinding involves digging below the surface. Grinding is worth it if the stump is near your house because the stump may attract termites or carpenter ants. Plus, it will be an eyesore if you don't have it removed.

If the tree is a big one, it might take a few days to go through the entire process of cutting it down, grinding the stump, and hauling away all the pieces of the tree. When the job is done, you may need to repair your fence and restore your lawn, but you will be free from the worry of a storm blowing the tree onto your house in the middle of the night. To learn more, contact a company like Jonny's Tree & Landscaping Co., LLC. 

Share