Tree Removal Challenges And How Professionals Overcome Them

Tree removal is hard, often hazardous work to begin with. When you add in a complication (such as a dead tree that's not stable), the job can get even trickier. Here are a few of the challenges that can come with tree removal and how a tree removal professional can overcome them.

1. Tree too close to something

If a tree is right next to a structure, you can't just chop through the trunk and let it fall wherever it wants. In this scenario, careful planning and rigging may be required to remove the tree piece by piece in a controlled way, which involves lowering each piece to the ground so none of it falls on the structure.

2. Tree hard to access

Sitting too close to a structure isn't the only thing that can make a tree harder to remove from the property. If the tree is difficult to get to, it can be harder as well. For example, the tree may be difficult to access if it's on a hill, a riverbank, or a cliff, or if it's surrounded by other trees or dense brush.

A tree removal professional can use heavy machinery to clear the area or can access the tree via climbing or with a bucket truck, depending on the situation.

3. Soft ground around the tree

Wet, marshy ground can be difficult to drive on and could cause machinery to sink in. In addition, if the area is a lawn, driving on it (or dropping branches on it) could cause expensive landscape damage. Some of the ways tree removal experts can minimize these issues include:

  • Laying down ground protection mats before the job
  • Driving on plywood if no lawn protectors are available
  • Taking the tree down in pieces to minimize the mess
  • Use smaller machinery to reduce the weight placed on the lawn

Different contractors may offer different options, so be sure to discuss the lawn protection strategy in advance if your tree is located in an area with soft ground, lawn, or fancy landscaping.

4. Tree structurally unstable

A tree that's not stable, such as a dead tree or one that's very damaged by lightning or disease, presents a tricky problem. Such a tree may fall or drop limbs during the removal process. And climbing the tree to remove it piece by piece can be dangerous since limbs could fall on (or out from underneath) the climber.

In this type of scenario, tree removal experts have to use their knowledge and judgment to decide on the best plan. They may climb the tree while avoiding the unstable portions, or they may opt to use a bucket truck to reach the top of the tree. 

These are just a few of the scenarios that can present challenges for tree removal. As you can see, hiring a professional who has the equipment and expertise to deal with these and other challenges is the best option when you need to remove a tree.


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