In this article, we provide you with information on oak tree removal. Such information consists of possible reasons for removal, the risks involved, who to call for such a job, etc.
Oak Tree Removal Guide
Oaks belong to a popular species of trees that can live up to 1,000 years! During its lifetime, a single oak tree produces an average of 8 million acorns.
Each acorn holds a seed from which a new tree can sprout. Like any other tree species, there might be a need to have such a tree removed.
For a lot of people, this isn’t an easy process as it requires weighing their options and making a decision on what actions to take.
Why Cut an Oak Tree?
There are multiple reasons why homeowners may want to have their oak trees removed.
These may vary from one person to the next. Some of the most common reasons include home expansion needs, diseased trees, creating a lot of mess, and posing a safety hazard.
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Home Expansion Needs
Construction is one of the primary reasons why trees are removed.
This may be true for some persons seeking to carry out expansion or remodeling on their property. The oak tree may be standing in the way. Sometimes, roots from this tree may be found to cause structural issues.
Other forms of home expansion may include landscape renovation, as well as installing a new swimming pool. Whatever the reasons are, an oak tree may stand in the way.
Such a tree will have to be removed to create more space to perform the needed improvements.
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Diseased Tree
Diseased trees pose a serious risk to your property and family.
There are tree diseases that weaken its structural strength. Apart from the risk of suddenly snapping under heavy storms, diseased trees have the potential to infect other nearby trees.
To limit such risks, you’ll need to have the tree removed.
Before having it removed, you’ll have to call for a professional assessment of its condition. Treatment for difficult or widely spread diseases may require removing the tree completely.
In cases where the disease is mild, the tree can be treated without removal.
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Creating a Lot of Mess
Oak trees may be removed for the mess they cause within a yard.
Remember we said oak trees produce 7 million acorns on average during their lifetime. Your tree might be particularly fruitful depending on the climatic and soil conditions.
This creates a lot of mess for you to clean up each time.
Instead of dealing with such a mess, some property owners may decide to get rid of the tree. Before taking such a decision, it’s best to consult with a tree professional.
There may be remedies for excess littering of your surroundings.
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Posing a Safety Hazard
Oak trees can become a safety hazard when they begin to shed large limbs, which could get broken during heavy storms. These falling limbs could land on your roof, causing significant damage and leading to injuries that may be fatal.
When it’s determined that your oak tree isn’t structurally sound, there’s a need to have it removed immediately to prevent possible accidents in the future. Old oak trees tend to pose the most safety hazard.
Have your trees inspected each year to determine their health?
Does Permission Apply During Oak Tree Removal?
There’s no definite answer to this question. It largely depends on where you live and what local regulations regarding tree cutting say.
While certain protections may be provided for some oak tree species, not all have such protection. You’ll need to make your research on what restrictions apply.
A great way of finding out is by discussing with an arborist what your options are.
Arborists handle a lot of tree pruning and removal jobs. They would normally have a clear understanding of what permissions (if any) apply to your situation.
Can I Save Money by Handling my Oak Tree Removal?
Many DIY’ers are tempted to handle their oak tree removal without professional help.
Here, we strongly advise against such as the risks can be great. These are large trees you might not have the skill or training to handle.
An oak tree being removed via DIY could end up destroying your home.
The risk isn’t worth the try. Your best bet is to call professional tree removal services to get the job done. This saves you a lot of stress, plus the mess created by removing the tree can also be cleared for you.
Money-Saving Tips for Oak Tree Removal
If you’re working on a tight budget, there are certain things you can do to lower your oak removal cost.
You might as the tree service to only remove the tree and leave the stump behind. You can take your time to hire a stump grinder for a gradual removal of the stump at your own pace.
Getting rid of debris created from oak tree removal will cost some extra bucks. You can work around this by taking care of the debris yourself.
Another cost-reducing tip you can apply is to get multiple bids from tree removal services. These have varying pricing structures.
The multiple bids obtained allow you to choose the better deal amongst them. Also, you might want to keep the wood removed for firewood.
Ensure a Tree Service Has Comprehensive Liability Coverage
Most home insurance contracts have no provision for damages caused by trees.
With this knowledge, it’s best to only hire professionals with comprehensive liability coverage in the case of property damage.
This way, you aren’t liable for repairs when damage occurs.
Dangers of Oak Tree Removal
There are lots of dangers associated with the DIY removal of oak trees.
Such include accidents due to improper equipment use, the impact of gravity which is likely to pull the tree in any direction, and the increased risks of dealing with decayed wood.
You also stand the risk of electrocution from power lines.
Oak tree removal is a delicate process that must be handled by persons skilled in this area. There are lots of things that could go wrong when adopting the DIY approach.
To guard against such, you only need to allow the pros to handle the job.
