Tree Removal – Preparation, Process And Safety

How do you carry out tree removal professionally, considering your options and safety needs?

A tree removal process isn’t as simple as it seems for the uninitiated. There are specific ways to remove a tree for persons seeking to embark on such a task.

This article will consider all the strategies you can use to get trees removed. To get the job done, the cost of the service will play an important part.

How to Remove a Tree Professionally

Stump removal is an additional factor to consider when discussing this subject. The type and size of trees also determine the cost incurred.

So, without delay, let’s delve into the subject properly.

Types Of Tree Removal Services

When tree removal is being discussed, it covers all related services.

These include:

  • land & lot clearing
  • stump grinding & brush chipping
  • root removal
  • industrial & municipal park tree maintenance
  • emergency tree services
  • professional pruning & trimming

Other services include tree risk evaluation & inspection, dangerous & crane tree removal, dead wooding, view enhancement & high skirting.

Additional services include tree fertilizer & hedging services, plant healthcare services, and stump removal.

A lot of tree removal companies include these services and more. If you have a tree-related problem, such companies are only a call away from you.

They provide professional tree maintenance services for both residential and commercial clients.

Hence the need to find out what a company offers for your specific needs.

Tree Removal Process

Professional tree removal follows a process.

It is assumed that you are a novice needing tree removal services. As such, it begins by identifying a problem with your trees. There are several tree problems or defects that will require getting them removed or trimmed.

These range from heavy storms, which lead to severe tree injuries, to the need to eliminate diseased (such as fungal infections) trees, cracked, dead, or weakened tree tissue due to drought.

Others are trees found too close to electric lines and many other reasons.

  • How Large Or Small Are These Trees?

Before embarking on tree removal, your actions must be determined by how large or small a tree is. How does this matter? It matters a lot because large trees aren’t as easy to remove as smaller ones like Cactus.

Also, larger trees pose greater risks to getting rid of.

Safety risks are significantly higher in such cases, hence the need to call the pros when such a situation arises.

When removing small trees, the risks are much reduced. You may decide to remove these yourself. In any case, having the right knowledge and skill as well as the right equipment is essential for performing a great job.

The less complicated tree removal process can be handled by you effectively.

Here is a guide to removing conifers and price estimates for such jobs.

  • The Preparation Phase

Before a tree is removed, it is preceded by preparation.

This initial phase of the removal process ensures the process isn’t complicated. It also reduces the risk of accidents resulting from tree removal.

So, what exactly must be done to get it started? There are a series of steps that include the following;

i. Clearing the Area

Before a tree is felled or cut, the surrounding area needs to be prepared.

To clear the paths or surroundings around the tree, the estimated height of such a tree(s) will need to be taken and used to clear the area or surroundings as much as possible.

Why is clearing necessary? You need adequate space for such trees to lay flat on the ground. If such a tree is too close to your building and can’t be cleared, there’s still a way out.

Tree removal companies use ropes to climb and cut off the tree in bits till the height is sufficiently reduced to cut it from the bottom.

ii. Find The Natural Leaning Angle Of The Tree

Before a tree is removed, it is important first to inspect it to find what direction it leans naturally. This is done to ensure the tree falls as planned. You can clear a path around the area.

Although there’s a high likelihood of a tree falling along its natural leaning angle, it doesn’t always happen that way.

This is especially true when decay is involved. When done by a professional, this situation is adequately handled. Hence the need to seek professional help when a decaying tree needs to be removed.

iii. Create An Escape Route

You must create an escape route beforehand. That is, way before removing the tree.

The above factors, such as the natural leaning direction of the tree, among other things, help to create an escape path. In clearing an escape path, obstacles should be removed as far as possible.

The more the escape paths, the better. Tree removal will create a situation where it either falls predictably in the absence of decay or unpredictably.

iv. Size Determines The Equipment

The equipment used for tree removal is largely determined by the size of such a tree(s).

Larger trees (those with thicker trunks or wider diameter) will require a chainsaw.

Smaller trees, on the other hand, can be removed using hand tools such as handsaws and the like.

  • The Next Phase (Tree Removal)

Having discussed the preparation phase for removing trees, the next step is where such trees are removed. This requires some skills and a basic understanding of how to cut them down.

After picking the side, you want the tree to fall, cut a V-shape at an angle of 45 degrees. This should be at the bottom.

How deep should the V-shape cut be? At about a quarter of the tree’s diameter. Next, you’ll need to go to the side of the tree and cut at about a few inches (usually two) above the undercut.

What this does is that the stress on the trunk is released, leading to a crashing down of the tree.

Remember the escape paths we earlier discussed? Now is the time to use them! Clear out fast! Everyone around should be alerted to stay out of the area.

An alarm should be sounded right before you cut opposite the undercut area.

  • Clearing the Area

This is the last phase of tree removal.

Here, the tree has been successfully removed, with the area needing some clearing. You’ll have to start with the branches to allow adequate space to cut the trunk area.

The tree trunk and thick branches are cut into smaller logs and hauled off the area.

Professional Tree Removal Services

Tree removal companies provide professional services to either residential clients, commercial clients, or both.

When trees are large, removing them yourself can be quite risky. It will be best to hand over the job to professionals who do this for a living.

This leads us to the next question; who do you call?

  • Who To Call

Not every tree removal service is right for the job.

What does this mean? It simply means that there are competent and incompetent tree removal companies. Extra care will need to be taken to avoid getting shortchanged.

Wherever you are, there’s always a tree removal company closest to you. There are online directories where all such companies are listed. You only need to enter or choose your location to find tree removal services closest to you.

So, how does one know a reliable company from one who isn’t?

It’s easy! Online directories such as Yelp and Angie’s List etc., have customer review sections. These are beneficial sections where customers or persons who have patronized the services of these companies drop their opinions about what they think of the service.

Such information should help you choose what tree removal company to patronize or not. The more positive the review, the more likely it is that such a company will have the capacity to satisfy your needs.

  • Consultation

Having identified a tree problem, it’s best to schedule a consultation with professionals. These are most likely to come from tree removal companies.

Consultation is sometimes provided at no additional expense to you. In other words, it is free and involves inspection of the problem and provision of recommendations.

Such recommendations will determine if the tree needs to be removed outright or trimmed, or high-skirted, among other services.

You must understand that a tree problem doesn’t automatically qualify it for removal. The problem will need to be assessed to determine if removal is the right course of action to take or not.

You have the freedom to schedule such a consultation at a time that best fits your needs. Tree removal companies also provide contact numbers on their websites to allow easy scheduling.

  • Strike A Balance Between Quality And Affordability

We’ve mentioned the best ways to find reliable tree removal companies.

While this is important, so is affordability. The tree removal industry is quite competitive, with companies offering various incentives to make their services irresistible.

To get the best deal, compare the pricing structure of multiple tree removal companies. That way, you can find the most attractive offering.

There you have it. Tree removal isn’t a complicated process once you understand what it entails. This article has been as informative as possible to help you remove unwanted trees in the best way possible.

2 thoughts on “Tree Removal – Preparation, Process And Safety”

  1. I have a large Maple Tree and another large Pine Tree I would like to have removed from my property. I would like to know if anyone is or would be interested in taking them out? I live in Washington.

  2. Thanks for also talking about the kinds of assessments that will be needed when determining if a tree should be cut down. I want to find a good tree care service soon because my tree has been drying out a lot lately. I’m not quite sure if its health is still salvageable.

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