Professional tree care is something you never think you’ll need until you do. But how exactly does one go about having trees cut down, and how does one go about choosing a tree service?
If you need a tree removed, whether it’s because it’s dead or because your favourite oak tree wasn’t spared in the night’s storm, it’s best to leave the job to the experts. Everything from the typical price to the types of certificates required and any necessary advance planning may be found here.
Why Do You Need A Tree Service?
There are a number of scenarios in which you could benefit from local tree cutting services. Large tree limbs have fallen on roofs because of storm damage.
A whole tree may crash to the ground in a hazardous area, potentially blocking traffic or a pathway. Trees that have died or been damaged may fall on nearby structures, posing a safety hazard and causing extensive property damage. Lastly, mould can develop on your home’s siding if trees are growing too close to it or are attached to it.
But trees aren’t always a pain; in addition to beautifying your property, they can also raise its worth. Due to this, it is important to keep them in good condition. Consult a local arborist about tree trimming or removal to figure out what to do with your garden.
Can You Just Cut Down The Tree Yourself?
Due to the many potential dangers involved, tree removal is not a good do-it-yourself project.
Cutting down a tree without assistance is risky since it’s hard to control where the tree will fall. Smaller trees can still weigh several hundred pounds, so if you underestimate its weight you could end up with serious injuries or even death if it falls.
The risk isn’t limited to the tree itself. An professional tree removal expert in your region will know how to avoid backlash and other risks of operating a chainsaw at height, whereas you are much more likely to harm yourself when trying to fell a tree.
If you have to climb either a ladder or a tree to get rid of branches, you run the risk of falling and, if the trees are near electricity lines, of getting shocked.
Also, you’ll still need a professional with specialised grinding equipment after the tree is cut down, if you plan to keep the stump in place. Avoid potential danger and get professional aid from a reliable tree service instead of attempting it yourself.
Determine Which Certifications Tree Experts Possess
After a major storm, you might well be approached by a contractor offering their services, however not all arborists are legitimate.
The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and the Tree Care Industry Association are two of the most respected organisations in the tree care industry, and their credentials should be a prerequisite for every prospective client (TCIA).
An ISA-trained professional is “dedicated to properly caring for and preserving their trees,” as the organization’s website puts it. Those services that have earned this seal of approval have demonstrated a commitment to continuous improvement and are at the forefront of their field.
By working with a TCIA member, you can rest assured that they are knowledgeable on the most recent regulations affecting the tree care industry. They also lobby the government for better tree care practises.
Many institutions mandate that their tree service providers have insurance, so hiring one that has earned one of these credentials is an added bonus.
Investigate Further To Confirm Insurance Coverage
Never take a contractor at their word that they hold insurance. You’re concerned about your own and the contractor’s safety, so you want to learn more about the contractor’s insurance coverage. If the business causes damage to your property, you won’t be responsible for covering the costs associated with such harm thanks to liability insurance.
If the tree cutter is wounded while working, you and he will be covered by worker’s compensation. If anything really goes wrong on the job, having this insurance protects you from legal action.
If you hire a tree service, make sure they have insurance by requesting the insurance company and agent’s contact information. It may be a red signal if the contractor is hesitant to provide this information. The next step is to get in touch with the contractor’s insurance provider to enquire about their coverage and to get proof of insurance. You still can call even if the contractor has already provided the information.
A bonded contractor is one who has private bond insurance, which can provide peace of mind while working with them. This is useful because if they do a poor job, you can file a claim against the bond issuer for compensation. If they have a bond, it signifies they are committed to following the rules established by the relevant building permits.
Get Referrals For Tree Removal Companies
When planning to have a tree cut down, one of the first steps is to locate a reliable service to do the work. See if any of your close friends or family members can recommend a good professional. You can also obtain excellent recommendations by posting to your prefered local social media group.
The following are examples of questions to ask a previous customer of the company:
- Were always the service providers punctual, making an appearance whenever they said they would and completing the work in the allotted time?
- Were they respectful of you and the property?
- How well did they do the job, and will there be no need for follow-up visits?
- What, if anything, did they do that you thought was risky or dubious?
- How well did they hear you out and how quickly did they respond?
You can demonstrate your thanks for a job well-done by hiring a tree removal service by tipping them and leaving them a glowing review, but neither of these actions is necessary or expected.
What To Anticipate During Expert Tree Removal
The cutting down of a mature tree is a difficult task. Large trucks and other heavy gear may be needed to remove the tree from your property, depending on its location.
Both methods are used by professional tree services when removing a tree. The service may choose to “fall” the tree in one piece if it is safe to do so and the tree is located distant from buildings, electrical lines, and other trees.
Felling the tree could be dangerous if it is close to structures or other barriers. Instead, workers will use climbing gear to safely access the tree’s top reaches and cut it down section by section.
If the tree is in an inaccessible area, the provider might employ a bucket truck to access the highest branches. After cutting down heavy branches, the provider may send in a crane to safely drop them to the ground.
Getting Ready To Cut Down A Tree
In order to preserve your property and make sure the tree removal goes successfully, it is essential that you prepare your yard for the heavy equipment that will be used. Get your car (or cars) out of the driveway so they won’t get scratched or dented by the tree service’s trucks and equipment, and move them somewhere safe from any falling debris.
Branches could fall and cause damage to your flower pots, lawn decorations, and patio furniture, so it’s best to bring them inside. Having the tree removal firm relocate these items could slow down the procedure and increase the total cost.
Cost
Tree removal costs can range from a few hundred to several thousand Australian dollars, with the average being around 750 Australian dollars per tree. The removal cost is very sensitive to the tree’s size, position, and condition, among other factors.
Smaller trees (those less than 30 feet in height) will cost around Au 8 each foot to remove, while larger trees (those 30 feet or more) will cost around AUD 15 per foot to remove.
The price of tree removal goes up because it takes more time and effort to avoid damaging nearby buildings and utility wires. Costs to remove trees with extensive decay or structurally unstable hollow sections rise because of the increased dangers to workers.
If you need a tree removed but can’t afford to pay to have it done, you may be eligible for a free tree removal. If indeed the tree is close enough to the power line, the utility company may pay to have it cut down. If the tree is in the way of a public sidewalk or road, your municipality may be willing to cover the cost.
The Tree Removal Procedure
The professionals will take care of the tree removal, but knowing what to expect will give you peace of mind and enable you to keep an eye on the work being done to make sure it’s done correctly.
- Tree removal experts will know just where to cut the tree so that it falls in the most controlled manner possible.
- In the event that the service chooses to fell the tree, they will first make a notch near the tree’s base on one side of the trunk to help guide its fall, and then make cuts on the other side until the tree falls over.
- If the tree is too large to topple in one piece, the provider will send someone up the tree or utilise a bucket truck to remove the branches.
- After climbing to a higher level, workers will often secure enormous branches to a crane prior to cutting them so that they may be brought down to the ground in a controlled manner.
- When the tree has been brought to the ground, workers will begin the “limbing” and “bucking” processes, which effectively remove the limbs and sawing the timber into smaller chunks.
- The firm will use a truck to haul away the tree debris and will also clean up the area after the work is done.
Post Tree Removal
After the tree has been cut down, the limbs have been removed, and the tree has been limbered, the bigger limbs as well as parts of the torso can be chopped into small pieces for use as firewood, while the smaller branches and sections with a narrow diameter will be fed into a chipper and ground into mulch.
It is important to keep in mind that the stumps would be left behind when you do not pay an additional fee for its removal during the process of cutting down a tree. You have the option of requesting that the stump be removed by a big piece of machinery equipped with just a chopping wheel to ground it out at an additional cost, or you may ask the tree professional to cut the stump to a level that is as close as possible as is safely practicable.
When researching and selecting a company to remove trees from your property, it is important to ask how much the stump grinding service will cost. Before making a choice, it is a good idea to get price estimates from a number of the area companies that do stump grinding.
Will Tree Removal Service Provide Cleanup?
After a tree has been cut down, the surrounding area is typically covered in a mess of smaller branches, leaves, as well as the other debris. A professional tree removal company will tidy up any debris caused by the removal of the tree, including any leaves, branches, wood chippings, or saw dust that may have been left behind.
However, you shouldn’t automatically assume that every company that removes trees will also clean up after themselves. During the interview process, you ought to ask about the availability of this service.
Will There Be Any Firewood Left?
If you have a fire pit in your backyard or a fireplace that burns wood, a huge tree could be a fantastic source of fuel for you to use. Request that the tree removal company chop and stack larger portions of the tree so that it can be used as firewood. Take into account that it usually takes anything from 6 months to 9 months for the wood to get dry enough to be used as firewood after the tree has been recently chopped down.
Because the expense of tree removal is offset in part by the sale of firewood made from trees cut down by the company, you may be required to pay a higher fee for the service if you plan on keeping the wood.
Conclusion
Leave tree removal to the professionals if you need it done. As a result of the storm, numerous large branches have fallen and landed on roofs. In a potentially dangerous area, a tree could fall to the ground in its entirety, blocking the way for cars or pedestrians. If trees are attached to the exterior of your home, mould can grow. You may feel more secure about hiring a contractor who carries private bond insurance if they are a member of the bonded contractor association.
You can seek redress from the bond issuer if their work is unsatisfactory. The removal of a tree from your property may necessitate the use of large trucks and other heavy equipment. The cost of having a tree cut down can be anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand Australian dollars. A tree’s size, location, and condition all play a role in how much it will cost to remove it. The utility company may pay you to remove a tree if it is encroaching on an overhead power line.
Your local government may pay to have the tree removed if it is blocking a public thoroughfare. The experts will be able to strategically cut the tree to ensure a safe, controlled fall. Find out how much the stump grinding service will cost you. Instruct the tree service to cut and stack larger logs than they normally would. Keep in mind that it can take anywhere from six months to nine months for freshly cut wood to dry out enough to be used as firewood.
Content Summary
- There are a number of scenarios in which you could benefit from local tree cutting services.
- Consult a local arborist about tree trimming or removal to figure out what to do with your garden.
- Due to the many potential dangers involved, tree removal is not a good do-it-yourself project.
- A professional tree removal expert in your region will know how to avoid backlash and other risks of operating a chainsaw at height, whereas you are much more likely to harm yourself when trying to fell a tree.
- Avoid potential danger and get professional aid from a reliable tree service instead of attempting it yourself.
- You’re concerned about your own and the contractor’s safety, so you want to learn more about the contractor’s insurance coverage.
- If the tree cutter is wounded while working, you and he will be covered by worker’s compensation.
- If you hire a tree service, make sure they have insurance by requesting the insurance company and agent’s contact information.
- The next step is to get in touch with the contractor’s insurance provider to enquire about their coverage and to get proof of insurance.
- A bonded contractor is one who has private bond insurance, which can provide peace of mind while working with them.
- This is useful because if they do a poor job, you can file a claim against the bond issuer for compensation.
- When planning to have a tree cut down, one of the first steps is to locate a reliable service to do the work.
- See if any of your close friends or family members can recommend a good professional.
- You can demonstrate your thanks for a job well-done by hiring a tree removal service by tipping them and leaving them a glowing review, but neither of these actions is necessary or expected.
- Both methods are used by professional tree services when removing a tree.
- If the tree is in an inaccessible area, the provider might employ a bucket truck to access the highest branches.
- After cutting down heavy branches, the provider may send in a crane to safely drop them to the ground.
- In order to preserve your property and make sure the tree removal goes successfully, it is essential that you prepare your yard for the heavy equipment that will be used.
- Get your cars out of the driveway so they won’t get scratched or dented by the tree service’s trucks and equipment, and move them somewhere safe from any falling debris.
- Having the tree removal firm relocate these items could slow down the procedure and increase the total cost.
- The removal cost is very sensitive to the tree’s size, position, and condition, among other factors.
- If you need a tree removed but can’t afford to pay to have it done, you may be eligible for a free tree removal.
- The professionals will take care of the tree removal, but knowing what to expect will give you peace of mind and enable you to keep an eye on the work being done to make sure it’s done correctly.
- Tree removal experts will know just where to cut the tree so that it falls in the most controlled manner possible.
- The firm will use a truck to haul away the tree debris and will also clean up the area after the work is done.
- When researching and selecting a company to remove trees from your property, it is important to ask how much the stump grinding service will cost.
- A professional tree removal company will tidy up any debris caused by the removal of the tree, including any leaves, branches, wood chippings, or saw dust that may have been left behind.
- Request that the tree removal company chop and stack larger portions of the tree so that it can be used as firewood.
- Because the expense of tree removal is offset in part by the sale of firewood made from trees cut down by the company, you may be required to pay a higher fee for the service if you plan on keeping the wood.
FAQs About Tree Removal
Should You Remove A Tree Close To The House?
If a tree’s branches are touching the roof or it is growing dangerously close to the house, it may need to be cut down or at least pruned frequently. It is recommended that large trees be planted at least 20 feet from any structure.
What Is The Fastest Way To Get Rid Of A Tree Stump?
In contrast to using a grinder, chemical removal of a tree stump is much quicker. The remaining fibres and roots of the tree can be broken down more rapidly through natural decay if chemicals are applied to holes drilled into the stump.
How Do You Know When It’s Time To Remove A Tree?
Evidence of internal decay includes vertical cracks, seams, dead branch stubs, and large, older wounds. When the tree’s main trunk has been severely damaged, it is usually best to have it cut down. No long-term damage should occur if the damaged area is less than 25% of the trunk’s circumference.
Do Roots Still Grow When Trees Are Cut Down?
After a tree’s leaves have been removed, it will no longer be able to produce the food needed to support new root development. If the root system keeps sending up shoots that develop into leaves, there’s a chance that the roots themselves will expand.
What Happens To Roots After Stump Grinding?
Stump grinding removes the visible remnants of a tree, but the roots of a mature tree can extend 4, 8, or even 12 feet below the surface. These roots will eventually decompose on their own after being ground up, but it will take a while. Over a decade may pass before the roots are completely decomposed.