Removing Trees 101
If a tree falls in the woods, and no one sees it… did it really fall? Isn’t this a silly question?
Every time I hear it, it makes me laugh. Obviously, if a tree is lying on the ground, it must have fallen, right? Trees just don’t grow 15’ in length while lying on the ground.
So, the question really becomes – NOW what do you do with a tree that you find in this precarious situation? I suppose it depends on a few things as to how urgently you need to address the problem. If, for example, the tree falls in your backyard and its not bothering anything, you probably have a little bit of time to get it taken care of. However, if the tree falls into the middle of a roadway, blocking traffic, it becomes a much larger issue that should be dealt with as soon as possible. So what do you do?
The first thing you need to do is assess the problem.
You want to ensure that there are no obstructions that are making the downed tree issue any worse. Power lines, vehicles, and even homes are things that you want to make sure the tree is clear of before you start hacking away at it. If the tree has fallen into any of these things, you DO NOT, under any circumstances, want to take matters into your own hands. Hiring a licensed professional to come out and clear the tree is your smartest option. Tree branches that have fallen onto power lines can cause death, if the wires are still ‘live,’ so calling out the utility company to assist in the removal of the tree would be the safest bet. They will have to tools and skills to be able to clear the tree from the line properly, without injury to person or property. If a tree falls onto a home or a vehicle, you will want to make sure to contact your local insurance company first.
They will most likely come out to take photographs and offer a quote to repair the damage caused by the tree.
Once you have done your assessments and you have cleared all of the obstacles from the situation, you now have to deal with the tree issue.
You can do a few things. You can call someone out to professionally cut the tree apart and haul the wood away. Sometimes, licensed contractors will come out with stump grinders and wood chippers to make the cleanup time that much simpler! I had a company come out last summer to my home and they brought an entire team to clear away a 15’ Bradford Pear tree from my backyard that lost its battle in a wind storm. The crew consisted of about 10 men and the tree was gone in just about 5 minutes. I could never have clear a tree away that quickly, on my own. They basically set up an assembly line. Two guys cut the tree, 4 guys hauled the wood away from the drop site, and the rest of crew operated the wood chipper and stump grinding equipment.
If you are a “DIY” person or money is tight, you can also choose to deal with the situation on your own.
You will need to ensure that you take all safety measures into account before starting your cleanup efforts – wearing protective eyewear, gloves and steel-toed boots are all necessary garments you should consider wearing. Getting assistance from friends or family may also be a good idea when working with the cutting and hauling of larger, heavier trees. Some folks who choose to do the DIY method of tree cutting usually end up keeping or selling the wood to burn in their woodstoves or fireplaces.
If you are a homeowner, at some point in your life, you will have to deal with this awesome experience that comes along with home ownership. There is no right or wrong choice in HOW you choose to have the tree removed, so long as the job is done correctly, that is all that matters at the end of the day.
