Understanding 3 Important Tree Removal Complications


Removing unwanted or unhealthy trees can improve your yard's appearance and your property's safety. These landscape fixtures, while beautiful, can pose a serious hazard when diseased, dying, or poorly maintained. However, removing a tree isn't an easy process. Because of the difficulty and associated hazards, it's a job you should always leave to the professionals. 

Still, certain complications can affect even experts. These three situations may make your tree removal job take longer or cost more, so understanding them is helpful.

1. Proximity to Structures

The easiest tree to remove is the one sitting in the middle of a large field, far away from people, structures, and even other trees. Unfortunately, most residential properties don't include massive lawns with lone trees. Instead, many dead or dying trees may be uncomfortably close to structures or close enough to fall on your home if removed improperly.

Cutting down a tree close to a house is a much more challenging job that requires specialized equipment. Your tree removal service will usually need to cut the tree in sections, removing the upper portion in smaller chunks to avoid damaging your home. Some companies may use a large crane to make this job easier.

2. Nearby Power Lines

Working near power lines is one of the most dangerous activities any professional tree service can undertake. Power lines pose numerous personal safety hazards, and damage to the power lines may also result in service disruptions or property damage. Because of these risks, you should never attempt to remove or even trim trees close to active power lines on your own.

Instead, always contact a professional service to work on trees in these locations. A tree removal service can also help you contact your local utility company, if necessary, and obtain any permits or permission needed to work near power lines. If there are power lines in relatively close proximity to an unwanted tree, inform your tree service before scheduling an appointment.

3. Tree Species

The differences between species of trees are more than just aesthetic. Certain trees have much harder wood than others, and some species can also have much tougher bark. These characteristics can make certain trees more challenging to remove than others because they require heavier-duty equipment or simply more worker skill.

The Janka Wood Hardness scale is one indication of how challenging a tree may be to fell. Trees that are higher on this scale contain denser wood that's more resistant to cuts, making them more difficult to cut down. If you're removing trees with a higher hardness level, you can expect the job to take longer and potentially cost more.

Contact a local tree removal service to learn more.

About Me

Taking the Guesswork Out of Tree Care

Have you ever tried to take care of your own trees? At first, cutting down dead limbs or dealing with ugly branches might have seemed like a simple task. Unfortunately, after climbing that ladder and managing sharp objects, another reality may have surfaced. In addition to staying safe, you might also have struggled with trying to determine which branches should stay and go, and how your choices could affect the tree's shape. I want to help you to take the guesswork out of tree care, so I made this blog. Read here to find out more about different trees, cutting methods, and common homeowner mistakes.