Removing a tree in your yard obstructing your views, detracting from your property’s curb appeal, or dealing with rot or decay may be the best solution. Getting rid of a tree might seem relatively straightforward, yet it’s a complicated process that can lead to many problems if you attempt to do the job yourself. Despite the appeal of DIY tree removal, it’s not something you should do.
As one of the top tree services in Louisville, KY, our Tree Care Inc. crew knows how much planning, strategy, and care goes into tree removals. Read our post below for more details about the possible dangers of do-it-yourself tree removal and why hiring a professional is best.
Common Problems With DIY Tree Removal
Tree cutting can be dangerous, even if you’re trying to cut firewood or secure a natural Christmas tree. Even professionals with years of training and lots of experience can suffer from occasional tree removal accidents.
The truth about weak, decayed, and dead trees is that they’re unpredictable. You might think you know where a tree will fall after cutting it, yet it could land in a completely different spot.
DIY tree removal dramatically increases the risk of injury and other complications. Here are other reasons you shouldn’t handle this kind of tree care without professional help.
Inadequate or Incorrect Equipment
Louisville arborists can access numerous tools and commercial-grade equipment that help them break through dense tree trunks and heavy branches. Depending on the size of the tree and the scope of the project, tree care crews may need bucket trucks or cranes as well as safety helmets, harnesses, and ropes to complete the job.
Most of this equipment isn’t accessible to homeowners. Not having the right equipment or safety gear for the job increases the risk of injuries and incomplete tree removal.
Improper Ladder Usage
Even if you think you can break your tree down with a chainsaw and ladder, you’ll likely still have problems. One of the most common issues with DIY tree removal is ladder misuse. For instance, placing the ladder on uneven ground, not having a secondary person stabilize the bottom of the ladder, and putting the ladder against a weak branch are just some of the ways this equipment can lead to a dangerous fall.
General Lack of Tree Removal Experience
Tree Care Inc. employs ISA-certified arborists and experienced tree care professionals with years of experience evaluating trees and facilitating their removal. Most homeowners don’t have similar credentials or experience. As such, DIY tree removals generally lack the necessary expertise to manage the project using the industry’s best practices while following the appropriate safety guidelines.
Incomplete Tree Removal
Did you know that it’s possible for a tree removal job to fail, even if you get rid of the entire truck and its branches? Many property owners forget about the plant’s stump and root system.
Tree stumps can be yard hazards and promote insect and fungal infestations. The stump and roots can also cause the tree to regrow. Unless you treat the entire tree during its removal, you can create more problems than you solve.
Not Enough Knowledge About Decaying Wood
If you need to remove a tree due to decay and rot, seeking professional services is crucial. Without the right knowledge and experience, you’ll have no way of knowing how much damage the tree has. As a result, your landing calculations can be off, which puts the surrounding environment in serious danger.
Since many residential tree removals involve cutting off branches before removing the trunk to avoid damaging nearby structures, climbing the tree to access its canopy is sometimes necessary. Unfortunately, weak, rotting branches can break without warning. You risk significant injury if you attempt to scale a decaying tree.
Limited Understanding About Gravitational Forces
For safe tree removal, you must know about how gravitational force works. Even if you think a tree will fall forward, it might not. You’d need to calculate its fall path using factors like gravitational force, tree weight, shape, branch distribution, and rot.
Fines
Besides injuries and property damage, DIY tree removal can also lead to hefty fines. Not all trees are removable, even if they’re on your property. Sometimes trees require permits for removal, which usually includes a requirement for professional removal by a qualified tree care service.
Why Hire a Professional Tree Care Service?
Removing trees in your yard as a do-it-yourself project might seem like a straightforward, cost-effective solution to a landscaping problem. Still, hiring an experienced tree care company is the better option. Here’s why.
Years of Training and Expertise
Arborists must undergo extensive training and education to provide quality tree care services like tree removals. They learn how to recognize potential hazards, calculate a tree’s fall path, and create innovative strategies to remove trees in inaccessible or unsafe areas.
Access to Commercial-Grade Tools, Equipment, and Safety Gear
Working with a professional company is also a good idea because they have everything they need to do the job. From rigging systems to personal protective equipment, these tree care specialists have access to lots of gear and equipment. You’ll save money on buying the tools and PPE yourself, and you won’t have to spend time learning how to use tree removal equipment safely.
Insurance and Liability Coverage
A top reason to hire professionals to remove your trees is that they carry insurance. Having proper insurance reduces liability. You’ll have financial protection against injuries and property damage that occur during the project, thanks to insurance.
Get Rid of a Problematic Tree the Right Way by Calling Tree Care INC.
Don’t put yourself and others at risk for injury and property damage with DIY tree removal in Louisville, KY. At Tree Care Inc., we have a skilled team of licensed and certified arborists with years of experience providing safe and efficient tree care removal services.
Even if a tree on your property has a sharp lean, we can provide the best solution to fix the problem before it falls. No tree care task is too much for us — call (502) 326-3661 today for an assessment. Get help now.