What To Expect During Emergency Tree Removal

When a tree can no longer endure the damaging effects of storms, disease, or destructive pests, it can become a danger to the environment and people living near it. As such, this means it will need to be removed from the property as soon as possible. Understanding what to expect during emergency tree removal, how to adequately prepare for it, and what steps are involved afterward can alleviate the stress involved in this sudden disruption to your home and property.

Why You May Need to Remove a Tree

Various circumstances may necessitate the removal of a tree from your property. Among the most common reasons are:

• Storm Damage: Trees can become severely damaged or uprooted by the force of storms, posing immediate dangers to your property and personal safety.
• Disease and Instability: Infected or dying trees, if not addressed in a timely manner, can become unstable and drop large branches or topple over unpredictably, risking injury to people and damage to structures nearby.
• Safety Concerns: Trees that threaten the well-being of individuals or structures, or obstruct clear sightlines necessary for safe driving, require urgent removal.

Recognizing these risks promptly and acting on them can prevent potential harm and further complications.

The Importance of Choosing a Professional Tree Removal Service

Tree removal is a dangerous operation that requires professional expertise in order to avoid serious injury and damage to property. If you need a large tree removed (any tree taller than twice your height, or with a circumference of more than four inches) selecting a professional tree removal service is essential. Professionals are equipped with the necessary experience, tools, safety equipment, and knowledge to remove trees carefully and efficiently.

Look for a tree removal service that has certified arborists on staff. An arborist can assess a tree’s condition thoroughly, identifying problems that aren’t immediately apparent to an untrained eye. These include pest infestations, rot, fungal infections, and parasites that can compromise a tree’s health and stability. Homeowners in need of an arborist in Portland, OR, can contact the certified experts at All Around Arbor. We’re ready to offer impeccable tree removal service grounded in expertise and local knowledge.

How to Prepare for Tree Removal

Preparation is key to ensuring the tree removal process is as smooth and safe as possible. Your tree removal service provider should consult with you on what you can and should do to safely prepare for upcoming tree removal services:

• Clear the Area: If it’s safe to do so, remove any lawn furniture, playground equipment, grills, or other movable objects around the tree to provide the tree service team with unobstructed access.
• Find out about your fence: If the tree that must be removed is near a fence, or in an area made inaccessible to tree removal equipment due to the presence of a fence or other barrier, talk with your tree service about a workaround. You may have to ask a neighbor if your service can approach the tree from their side of the fence. In rare circumstances, you may even need to remove a section of fencing to allow your arborists access to the tree to safely remove it.
• Inform Your Local Authorities: Depending on your location, you may need to inform your city or village about the tree removal. Obtain any necessary permits and arrange for parking for the tree service vehicles.
• Notify Your Neighbors: Out of courtesy and concern for safety, inform your neighbors about the upcoming tree removal, especially if it may impact their property in any way.

What Happens During Tree Removal

Removing a tree is a meticulous process and involves several critical steps. Your tree service provider will explain what they’ll do, and any precautions you should take:

1. Preparation and Planning: The tree service team will assess the situation and develop a strategic plan for safely removing the tree.
2. Cordoning Off the Area: Safety is a priority. The area around the tree will be cordoned off to ensure the safety of the workers and any bystanders.
3. Readying Safety Equipment: Before commencing, your service team should prepare and double check all necessary safety equipment to be used throughout the operation. This may include but isn’t necessarily limited to ropes, pulleys, harnesses, climbing equipment and spikes, chain saws, vehicles, and personal protective gear such as helmets, boots, and safety gloves and leggings.
4. Positioning of Heavy Equipment and Bucket Truck: Depending on the size and location of the tree, heavy equipment or a bucket truck may be driven onto your property to facilitate the removal.
5. Careful Dismantling: The tree will be carefully taken down, starting from the top, using ropes and pulleys. The trunk is cut down once all branches are removed.
6. Disposal and Log Preservation: Branches are typically ground up, and if requested, tree removers can reserve logs that are free of disease and pests may be reserved for firewood.
7. Stump Removal: The service team will return within a week or so to grind out the stump, leaving your property clear of any remnants of the tree.

Repairing Your Soil and Landscape After Tree Removal

Once the tree and stump are removed, there may be a substantial void in your landscape. You’ll need to add soil to the place where the stump was, and you may need to aerate and supplement soil that became impacted due to pressure from heavy equipment. Consult with a landscaper to discuss soil nutrition replenishment and potential replacement plantings that can restore the aesthetic and ecological balance of your outdoor space.

You can start by removing woody remnants from the stump grinding and filling in the hole with rich, high nutrient topsoil, with some compost mixed in. Depending on the location of the tree removal, you should have a choice between planting grass, shrubbery, flowers, or a replacement tree where the old tree used to be.

Preparing for emergency tree removal and knowing what to expect, while daunting, is manageable when approached with the proper information and preparation. By understanding what the process entails, homeowners can mitigate the impact of removing a tree from their property. Following removal, taking steps to repair and rehabilitate the landscape will help restore your space to its former tranquility.

As unexpected as needing to remove a tree may be, it’s reassuring to know that professional services are available to support you through the process, ensuring your property and safety are preserved.