I had a neighbor who had planted a little tree in her completely fenced backyard when she first moved in to her newly built home. Thirty odd years later, it had grown to be about six stories high. Unfortunately, it had also died, it’s bleached and leafless carcass a stark contrast to the green abundance around it. The height of the dead tree became a concern. If it fell in any direction, the chances were that it would do major damage to a home – and the people in it. For this reason, my neighbor decided she needed some tree service in Long Island. She figured a tree removal was cheaper than a lawsuit.
The company that came in to remove the tree had a cherry picker, a vehicle that has a little box on an extending arm, like you see workers using to repair power lines. They also had a guy with spikey boots and a leather strap that wrapped around his waist and the tree trunk. He could shimmy up the trunk of the tree and cut limbs with a chainsaw, allowing the limbs to fall to the ground. The tree came down in stages: first the upper and lower limbs, until the tree was mostly trunk; and then slices of the trunk itself until it was cut close to the ground. She chose to keep the wood and she didn’t have the root removed, which saved her some money. She could then decide if she wanted the wood chopped up for her fireplace or advertise it in the classifieds for others to take away.
The cost of removing that tree was substantial because it was so tall and because it was in a difficult spot for the tree removal company to maneuver their equipment. A smaller, more accessible tree in her front yard would have been much cheaper. Whether you live in Tennessee or Long Island, tree removal companies base their prices on the difficulty and complexity of the job and whether or not you want the wood removed from the site afterward. You can usually get a quote from such a company, who will send a representative to look at the tree and gauge the difficulty of removal. Had the tree in this story not posed such a great hazard, my neighbor would not have bothered paying the money, but there was an urgent need to take it down before a heavy windstorm did the job for her in a much less controlled manner.
For any tree removal needs, make sure that the company you hire is licensed and insured. They should be professionals, with the proper equipment and training. Cousin Jim may have great intentions and a chainsaw, but without proper training, such work can be incredibly dangerous. Also, find out their reputation before signing a contract. Less scrupulous companies have been known to get half or all the money up front, do half the job, and then disappear. If you can, ask former customers how they liked the work done by the company you are investigating. By hiring the right tree removal company, you will get good, safe service.