Trees are a beautiful addition to any landscape, providing shade and wind protection as well as homes for wildlife. However, sometimes trees may need to be removed, particularly when they are dead or dying and pose a safety hazard.
While it is possible to remove a small, low-growing tree yourself, removing a large, tall or diseased tree requires special equipment and knowledge of proper techniques. The average homeowner should hire a professional to avoid costly damage to property and injury to people and pets.
The first step in tree removal is to determine whether it is safe to cut the tree down. A professional arborist will examine the tree and the surrounding area to ensure that there is enough room for the fallen tree to fall without hitting buildings, power lines or other objects. This can be difficult in urban home landscapes, where many trees are located very close to houses and other structures.
A good indicator of a dangerous or unhealthy tree is if the trunk or large branches are tilting to one side. A tilted trunk or branches may indicate that the tree is about to fail, making it unsafe for anyone below. Other signs of a dangerous tree include a cracked trunk, large cavities in the trunk or roots, fungus growth and soft, crumbling wood.
If a tree is not a safety risk, it might be able to be saved with proper care and treatment. An arborist can inspect the tree and recommend treatment for its condition. However, if the tree is severely damaged or dead, removal may be necessary to prevent further damage.
Once a decision has been made to remove a tree, there are several things that the homeowner can do to prepare. If a professional is being hired for the removal, it is a good idea to clear away lawn furniture, vehicles, fire pits and other items that could be harmed when the tree falls. It is also a good idea to install no-parking signs in the area before the day of removal so that neighbors have plenty of warning.
A professional tree service will start the process by assessing the height of the tree to see if there is enough space for it to be felled all at once. This is not practical for most urban home landscapes, so the tree will be dismantled in sections. The arborist will begin by cutting off lower branches, using a chainsaw to make an undercut at the branch’s underside and then sawing downwards from the top of the branch. This allows the branches to fall slowly to the ground, rather than dropping suddenly and damaging anything in their path.
If a stump remains after the tree is removed, a professional can grind it down or use stump removal chemicals. In some cases, a stump can be left in the ground as a planter or other landscaping feature. If a stump is too large to grind or dig out with a manual stump grinder, the arborist can remove it with a hydraulic crane.
source https://litchfieldtreeservices1.wordpress.com/2024/03/21/the-basics-of-tree-removal/
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