Having a Tree Removed:

Do you need to remove a tree from your yard? Having a tree removed is a common homeowner issue since trees do rot and even die from disease. A few of my neighbors had trees damaged from lightning strikes and they are too dangerous to leave standing so they will need to come down. I had an old oak tree in my front yard that was diseased and has been hanging on the last few years. This spring was the time for us to have it removed and so I pursued my options. Tree removal services are available to help in those situations where the homeowner either doesn't want to take on the project themselves or perhaps it's too difficult. In my case, the tree stood some 35 feet high and was positioned on the side of our hill which made trying to get at it even harder. Some of the branches not only overhung our house but our neighbors home was in jeopardy too. I didn't want to take on the hazardous work so I hired a local tree contractor who was referred to us. Tree trimming is one thing, but literally cutting a tree down to the stump is not an easy project and takes some careful planning.

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Our first issue was making sure the sawed off branches would not harm either house under the tree and also the tree removal service wanted their men to be safe while in the tree. Since the oak tree was on a side hill, one option was to hire in a crane piece of equipment that would allow easy access to all the high branches and probably make quick work of the removal. The cost for the crane was very high so instead we went with the slower route and that was to have guys climb the tree and start removing branches one by one in a strategic manner. The tree removal service crew showed up early in the morning and was done by late afternoon. We had decided to leave the stump since that was an additional cost. The crew was very good not to have branches smash our house as they tied ropes to limbs that were about to come down and lowered them without much effort. With chain saws a tree can be removed fairly quickly, the real time involved is managing to get the branches down to the ground in an organized manner and not just cutting and letting them fall. Some of the smaller limbs were ground up on site and the rest of the wood was cut into smaller pieces and thrown into their truck for removal from our yard. Some of my concerns were that our shrubs and bushes would get smashed under the weight of the some of the tree branches but that didn't happen. There was plenty of sawdust on our lawn (under the tree), but that cleaned up pretty easily with a leaf blower. The stump remains for now and someday we will probably remove it. Stump removal services cost $100's and since the tree was brought down almost to ground level we weren't that concerned with how it would look. The cost to remove a tree depends on a variety of factors and we will go into that next.

Tree Removal Cost:

Removing a tree can be very costly as several things go into the price of removal. Firstly, the size of the tree is a huge factor as that determines the type of tree removal equipment needed to trim it down. Secondly, the location is important as the closer it is to houses or building makes for tedious work to make sure nothing gets damaged as large branches are crashing down. If a tree is on flat ground with zero obstructions down below then the tree trimmers can cut and let huge branches fall to the ground without much concern. The harder work occurs when they need to be careful. We got 3 bids for the project and went with the $750 estimate. The highest price was bid at $1100 and the lowest was $700, but the contractor seemed unorganized and so eventhough his project was cheap we went with the mid-range estimate. Since our house was so near the tree I wanted a professional crew to do the work and not some fly by night company. Make sure they are fully insured in case something goes wrong - I've read stories of tree trimmers causing damage to homes as they cut and branches fall. Any tree removal service you hire should have references and I strongly suggest you contact a few of them. Websites like Craigslist are an excellent source if you need to get a few estimates. Other services online will help you find a tree service, but I would say check with your neighbors and do the "word of mouth" thing first to get the best tree removal company in your area. Our tree wasn't as high as some huge pines in the area, but it was a good sized oak that was larger than most trees you'd find in a yard. Expect to spend at least $500 to $800 on having a tree removed - the cleanup is a big part of the price as well.

DIY vs Hire a Tree Removal Service:

In the past I have removed branches and even larger limbs on trees with chainsaws, but this project was beyond my skill set. I don't mind heights, but when wielding a chain saw at 30 feet up I get a little worried. If the tree were smaller or the branches were thinner I may have considered it, but at this point in my life the risk of being injured or hurt is not worth it. I would rather spend the money to have a professional tree service come in and get the work done in a day. Plus they have all the necessary equipment that I may have had to rent just to finish the project in a timely manner. Chainsaws, trimmers, shredders, etc.

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