The term “tree cleanup” can be quite confusing as it can be interpreted to mean clearing a fallen tree or could mean a pruning action taken to promote the health of a tree.
This article takes a look at both by providing explanations on how each is done.
The information provided should answer your questions.
Tree Cleanup Service Could Mean Two Things
As mentioned above, it’s important to make key distinctions between tree cleanup as it involves fallen trees as well as cleanup which relates to pruning.
The former has to do with evacuating a dead tree while the latter involves improving the health and structure of a tree. With this said, let’s take a look at each;
i. Cleaning Up Fallen Trees
In terms of cleaning up a fallen tree, it’s absolutely a no-brainer that the tree in question needs to be relocated or cleared up. Now, a tree may topple over due to several reasons.
Before this happens, there may be signs which could either be obvious or unnoticeable.
Likely reasons for fallen trees include advanced insect infestation, improper planting conditions, old age, poor soil conditions, as well as flooding.
A tree is likely to be weakened by construction activities. Any of these reasons could lead to a tree toppling over. So, what happens when a tree falls?
You’ll need to clean up!
Things to Do When Clearing Up Fallen Tree(s)
To clean up the area where a tree lies, a systematic approach needs to be followed.
Here, several actions are taken that include finding out if local ordinances apply, making the area safe for the cleanup process, as well as chopping up the tree.
Having chopped up the tree into moveable sizes, you’ll need to have them disposed of. With these key points listed, let’s take a further look at what they entail, shall we?
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Do Local Ordinances Apply?
One of the first things you need to do before clearing up a fallen tree is found out if there are applicable permits for such situations. A lot of cities and counties have ordinances guiding tree removal.
It’s important to know such to avoid violating them.
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Making the Area Safe for Cleanup to Begin
This stage involves safety provisions to help avoid accidents.
In making the area safe for tree cleanup to begin, you’ll need to check if any damaged power lines are resulting from the fallen tree.
If there are, you should have the power company carry out necessary fixes to avoid electrocution.
Also, the area must be from any obstructions that could hinder the easy removal or clearing of the tree. For situations where the area is quite challenging, you might want to call the pros to handle the job.
They have the expertise as well as tools necessary to get the job done efficiently.
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Chopping Up the Tree
At this stage, the fallen tree is chopped into manageable bits for easy cleanup. The branches are first targeted followed by the tree trunk. One common tool used for such a task is the chain saw.
Here, the goal is to have the tree sliced into smaller pieces to aid in easy removal.
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Proper Disposal
Disposal largely depends on what your preferences are. A chopped tree may be disposed of through grinding into sawdust and hauling such away.
Another option is to use the tree for firewood. Before disposal, consider consulting a professional on the best disposal methods available.
ii. Cleaning or Pruning Live Trees
As stated earlier, the term “tree cleanup” has multiple meanings. Having discussed the clearing of fallen trees, let’s consider another scenario that involves the pruning of live trees.
This is a common tree maintenance procedure that involves the removal of certain limbs to aid structural integrity and also improve aesthetics.
While this type of tree cleanup is a vital maintenance procedure, it needs to be done by professionals or arborists who have an understanding of plant biology.
This helps limit the chances of the tree becoming infected or dying.
Cleaning is a type of pruning technique that’s carried out to improve tree health. Other techniques include size reduction, raising, as well as foliage density reduction.
Let’s briefly discuss each of these pruning actions before proceeding.
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Tree Cleaning
Tree cleaning is a pruning technique that involves the removal of diseased, dying as well as weakly attached limbs. It also targets low-vigor branches around the crown of a tree.
As with all pruning techniques, the goal is to improve the health and structural integrity of a tree.
Sometimes in a bid to clean a tree, you might end up hurting it or causing more harm than good. This is why the expertise of an arborist goes a long way to prevent damage.
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Size Reduction
While should the size of a tree be reduced?
Tree size reduction is important especially in situations where there are utility lines within the area. Here, the branches need to be pruned further back to help avoid obstructions to such lines.
Asides from preventing disruptions to utility lines, tree size reduction also improves its form as well as structural integrity. This tree cleanup up procedure ends up becoming a win-win situation.
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Raising
There are times when the lower branches of trees develop at the lower end and extend sideways, thus disrupting construction. In such situations, the best approach is to have the tree raised by cutting off or removing the lower branches.
This provides ample clearance for construction work. Asides from construction, it also offers clearance for vehicles, as well as pedestrians.
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Foliage Density Reduction
Foliage density reduction is another type of tree cleanup procedure that seeks to thin the foliage. Such action is often carried out around the crown’s periphery.
The goal is to help improve the penetration of light as well as the improvement of wind for better tree health and growth. More importantly, interior foliage growth is promoted.
The two explanations given above provide vital details on the direction tree cleanup could go. You may wish to have a fallen or dead tree removed or you might simply want to improve the health of a live tree through pruning.
Which of these looks like your situation?