We take the decision to remove a tree seriously, especially if the tree itself is healthy. As much as we love our jobs, we don’t necessarily like to cut down healthy trees — but the truth of the matter is that trees are a renewable resource. Sometimes tree removal is the best option; trees can be replanted, after all, allowing them to grow and prosper for many years.
4 Things To Consider When Removing A Tree
1. What are your goals for both the tree and your yard? It can be helpful to prioritize your goals. For example, if you have a tree next to your home that causes safety concerns but you really love how it looks and the shade it provides, we suggest ranking your priorities in this order:
- Safety
- Shade
- Appearance
You can even get more specific regarding what exactly you like about the tree’s appearance or what your top safety concerns are. If yours is a rental property, you might have completely different goals, such as reducing maintenance and liability worries.
If you simply have a tree that you don’t like, it’s also important to think about why you dislike the tree. For example, does it drop too much sap in the summertime, making your deck a sticky, unusable mess? Even in a case like that, there are alternatives. For example, rather than spending several thousand dollars removing the tree, property owners might consider a several-hundred-dollar treatment to prevent aphids, which are often the actual culprits in sap production.
2. What are your options? Be super clear with your tree professional about your goals so that they can help you achieve them and/or suggest other options. For example, it may be better to prune a tree rather than remove it. Of course, it’s possible that the opposite is the best course of action: a property owner may want to prune a tree that should actually be removed. If the customer’s goal is to eliminate branches overhanging the house, reduce the height of the tree, or stop a tree from uplifting concrete, there are many cases where the only true answer to those problems is tree removal.
We don’t necessarily like to cut down healthy trees, but trees are renewable; they can be replanted. In many cases, it’s better to remove a tree and start over with the right tree in the right location. Plus, delaying the inevitable can increase the cost of tree removal.
3. What does the law say? In certain cases, the ultimate decision to remove a tree may not be up to you — even if it’s on your property. Trees within a certain (varying) distance from the street are owned by the city, and thus they are responsible for decisions regarding their maintenance and removal. Homeowner’s associations often have their own covenants that restrict the Owner’s decisions without review and approval of the local board. Also if you live adjacent a conservancy or forestry maintenance area, the removal of your trees may be subject to a permitting process, and unpermitted tree removals can incur fines in the thousands of dollars.
If you have any doubt on your situation, please contact us for a free evaluation and assessment on how to proceed.
4. What happens to the removed tree? We work hard to provide tree services that work best for our clients, the community, and the environment. Every part of the removed tree is recycled and/or reused. The wood from the trunk and branches is used as firewood, and the remainder is ground into chips offsite and re-used as mulch material.
When It’s Time To Remove A Tree
Whether you’re a business owner with a shady lot or a homeowner who’s on the fence when it comes to one of your trees, it’s important to understand that tree removal is sometimes the absolute best — and often only — course of action.
Here are four reasons why tree removal is often the solution:
- The tree is diseased. Trees can experience a host of different diseases — some more serious than others. If a disease spreads and begins to kill the tree, it might be easier and more affordable to simply remove the tree instead of trying to save it. The earlier a disease is caught and treated, the easier it is to handle. However, if your tree’s disease has begun to overtake a large portion of it, it might be time to bid it adieu.
- It’s impossible to take proper care of the tree. Different types of trees have different pruning demands, and sometimes people don’t know what they’re getting into. Not everyone has the time, skills, money, or patience to care for an especially demanding tree. If you know you don’t have the time and don’t want to contract a landscaper on a regular basis, your life will be a lot easier if you remove the tree and perhaps replace it with a less demanding variety.
- It’s grown too close for comfort. Whether a tree was planted too close to a house or if it’s an older tree that’s grown beyond what the planters ever imagined, a tree too close to a building can spell trouble. In a severe storm, if it’s hit by lightning or toppled by strong winds, a tree can cause damage to property and people. Thus, sometimes removing a tree that’s nestled next to a building makes things safer for everybody.
- The tree has become a huge distraction. Maybe a tree has grown out of control and is invading electrical wires, blocking key road signs, or dropping fruit directly onto a busy street. Trees can turn into nuisances, especially if they’re overgrown or if the neighborhood has turned from rural to suburban over the years. Someone needs to take care of these trees, and if they’ve become neglected, they can present hazards. After all, it’s important that stop signs remain visible and that cars stopped there aren’t damaged by falling walnuts.
If you’re ready for a tree removal or you need help making a decision — please contact an expert in tree care and removals. They can help you make the best choice for you and your trees.