eTree RemovalGardening, Tree Service, Tree Removal, Tree Stump Removal Blog

A tree crashing into your living room or any room for that matter would certainly be a horrifying and dangerous experience. Luckily, if done right there is LITTLE risk involved in tree removal. It’s easy to check into whether a tree service company is licensed and insured to be performing tree removal. If you are doing this yourself and are not a trained arborist then the risk of personal injury and/or property damage greatly increases. Luckily, most people realize tree removal is a job for professionals. When I had a tree removed on the side of my house years back the company and professionals they sent out left me feeling very comfortable about the process. Here are some things to look for to ensure your tree removal goes according to plan.

Commercial Arborist License

The arborist and company performing the tree removal service should be licensed through their state. An arborist is a professional who improves the condition of fruit, shade, or ornamental trees by feeding or fertilizing, or by pruning, trimming, bracing, treating cavities or other methods of improving tree conditions, or protecting trees from damage from insects or diseases or curing these conditions by spraying or any other method. All states should have some sort of exam professionals must pass.

Here is an example of state requirements.

International Society of Arboriculture 

Not all tree service companies and professionals need to be or are members of the ISA. Still if you’d like some sort of industry industry standard backing up the tree removal then you’ll want to visit the ISAs website and find a local ISA chapter in your area. The local chapter can provide you with a list of arborists in your area. You can also find a great deal of information on the profession from the ISA’s website. Check them out.

Agreeing to Tree Removal

Be sure a contract, work order, or some other legally binding contract is signed between you and the tree service company. This document should explain the following and be signed by both parties.

1. Exactly what work will be done. This should state which tree or trees is to be worked on and exactly what will be done.
2. When the work will start and when the work will end. This should include a start date/time and an end date/time.
3. What type of cleanup work will be done afterwards. Will the tree be left on your property (often done for firewood or wood chipping)? What about the branches and leaves?
4. The total dollar amount that you will be charged.

Removing a tree is a big decision. This is a pricey endeavor that can turn even pricier if not handled correctly. This is certainly not something your typical weekend warrior landscaper should undertake. Luckily there are hundreds of tree removal experts across the United States and any home or business owner should be able to find a licensed company to give them a bid. In some cases your city government can help with limb removals if it poses a risk to power lines or other utilities.

I decided on my first tree removal after purchasing my second home. The property was excellent except that an overgrown oak tree’s roots had begun threatening the foundation of my home on the eastern facing side of my house. Within a few years I worried that my homes foundation could be breached by the trees roots eventually flooding my property when rains were heavy. The tree was also very unsightly. My wife fought me a bit on it, but in the end we decided to fork out the money to a tree removal company.

After finding the best bid and reading reviews on the company we set the process in motion as tree removal specialists analysed the risk. Finally the day came and they began taking the tree down in small sections until it was nothing but a stomp. The following guides lines worked for us and they can work for you too.

1. Is the tree dead or dying? If the tree is dead or dying than its time to remove the tree. Overtime, a dead tree can become weak and pose risk to your property and your well being should it fall during a wind storm. You may want a botanist to come over and take a look at the tree to verify its in fact dead or has been stricken with an incurable infection.
2. Is the tree causing property damage. Overtime a trees roots can pose a significant risk to sidewalks, pipes, gas lines, electrical lines, or as in the case of my first tree removal a the very foundation of your home. If this is the case then its time to see the help of a tree removal specialist.
3. I am not a huge fan of this one, but there does come a time when a tree is so unsightly and so out of place that it actually can bring the value  of your home down. Eye sores matter to buyers and if your tree is an eye sore its time to bring the tree down by bringing in a specialist.