It can be incredibly worrying and stressful to know that there is a tree in your garden which is in danger of falling, especially if there is a risk of it damaging your property or your neighbors. Tall trees or those with especially thick trunks are particularly difficult to remove.
Removing the Tree Yourself
The first thing many people consider is to cut the tree down themselves. However, it is considerably more difficult than it may appear. It is normal to cut a v shaped wedge from the tree, but you should make an incision on the opposite side of the V and higher than the V. When the wedge is removed the tree should fall, the higher cut should prevent it from twisting as it falls. However, this method is not foolproof. It can go wrong and many people lose a limb or even their life by attempting to fell a tree themselves.
You should also consider the amount of wood and branches which will need to be dealt with. You may be able to get people to collect this for free; assuming you have no use for the wood yourself. It is not impossible to complete your own tree removal, but you do need to consider your options carefully before undertaking this potentially dangerous activity.
Tree Removal Service
There are a variety of professional firms available which will perform your tree removal for you. The charge will depend upon the size of the tree, accessibility and whether there are any obvious issues to be aware of, such as power lines.
There are two types of professional tree removal services:
Professional ones which charge
There will be a professional tree removal service in your area which will provide you with a quote for free. Many of these businesses, like Michael Tree Service in Fredericksburg, will have been established for a number of years and will have a good reputation. These firms may provide additional services, such as stump removal, landscaping and tree care. .
A professional firm will have all the tools needed to successfully complete the job. This can save you a considerable amount of time and hassle, as well as avoiding the risk. If something does happen when they fell your tree their insurance will cover the cost of the damage.
Free Professionals
These are much harder to find! You will need to look for small, independent loggers in your area. They may be interested in felling your tree and taking it away to turn into planks of wood. They are likely to remove the tree for free as they will make a tidy income from the sale of the wood; once they have cut the planks out of it. However, it can be difficult to locate someone in your area who may be willing to offer this type of service.
Alternatively you can advertise the fact that you have a tree which needs removing and that the wood will be free to anyone who removes the tree and clears everything away. There are still plenty of people who use wood burning stoves and they are often prepared to fell a tree in return for the wood. However, they are not likely to be insured for felling the tree and you will need to be certain there is no obvious risk.
