Tree services include tree removal, stump grinding, pruning, plant health care, root management, storm damage cleanup, emergency service, preservation and assessments, and more. Some of these jobs can be done by a homeowner, but others are best left to trained professionals who can perform the job safely. An accident that cuts down a tree can cost many times what a tree service professional would charge, let alone your life.

A homeowner can prune trees when they are small. Less than 12′ tall is a good size example for a homeowner to prune. Pruning will help develop good branch structure, with proper branch and shoot development. Dead, broken and split branches should be removed from the tree. Branches can be thinned as needed. When pruning a tree, pruning cuts should never exceed more than 25% of the live canopy of the tree.

There are 4 types of tree pruning;

1) Crown cleaning includes the pruning of dead or diseased branches from the crown of a tree.

2) Canopy raising includes raising the low hanging branches of a tree, sometimes done for lawnmowers or sights.

3) canopy reduction includes the selective reduction of the height of a total canopy. Y

4) crown thinning which includes light thinning of some of the living inner branches of the canopy. Covering or trimming the canopy is never recommended.

As much as the owner wants to save their trees, they may need to be removed at some point. Dead, dying and dangerous trees will have to be removed. There are many ways a tree can die, most often the reason is urban forestry, such as compacted soil, nutrient deficiencies, or extreme environmental changes such as droughts. Sometimes trees grow too tall for their area, especially if they were planted near a house. Improper planting is a common problem in our landscape.

Tree removal can be very dangerous. This is particularly true if a large tree is near a house, a high-voltage power line, or a street. Even when a relatively smaller tree can be cut down, it is still dangerous for the owner. There are many things that can go wrong. Examples include improper notching and cuts, misjudging the weight or lean of a tree, and improper use of a chainsaw. There are many factors of tree work that require safety precautions, training, and actions on the part of professionals who perform tree removal every day. Using a chainsaw safely requires safety training, and ANSI standards require workers to wear all of their PPE – personal protective equipment. This includes chaps, proper eyewear, hearing protection, safety gloves, and a hard hat. Professional companies that are accredited by the Tree Care Industry Association are required to hold weekly safety meetings. Companies that take security seriously have a security policy and disciplinary program, a company security manual, and a security training program.

Professional tree service workers have the proper training, experience, and equipment to complete removals safely. Your staff can climb a tree and cut it down piece by piece using proper ropes and equipment, taking special care when the tree being removed is too large and too close to the house and power lines. Workers have the climbing equipment, safety ropes, and training to do the job properly. Cranes or bucket trucks are sometimes needed to remove trees in tricky places, especially when it comes to power lines. Tree companies that are not certified to work near high-voltage power lines must comply with the OSHA standard and stay more than 15 feet away from the lines. Unfortunately, there are many injuries and fatalities at both ends: the arbor professionals and the neighbor kid felling the trees.

Once a tree is cut down, the stump still remains. A stump can take many years to rot. After he burps, a hole is left where the stump was. A stump can be removed with a stump grinder. The lawn can be restored immediately without waiting for an unsightly stump to decompose. Stump grinders can be rented, but stump removal work is difficult, noisy, and dangerous. Using a professional, fully insured, licensed, certified and accredited tree service company is the smart way to go.

Visit the JL Tree Service Inc website for more information on tree removal.