What does tree removal involve?
Tree removal means cutting a tree down to the ground and clearing away the wood. On most residential lots the tree can't be dropped in one piece, so a climber or bucket truck takes it apart from the top down. Heavy pieces are lowered on ropes instead of free-falling onto the lawn. Brush goes through the chipper, and the trunk is cut into logs that we haul off or stack for you.
When does a tree need to be removed?
A tree usually needs to come down when it's dead, when more than about half the crown has died back, or when the trunk or roots are too damaged to hold it up. Other common reasons are a lean that's getting worse, a split trunk that's past saving, and a tree growing into the foundation. Sometimes a tree only looks bad and a careful trim fixes the real problem. We'll tell you which one you're looking at.
Why do trees on North Shore properties become unsafe?
Trees here fail for local reasons. Sandy glacial soil on hillside lots lets roots loosen after heavy rain. Beech leaf disease is killing beeches across the area, and emerald ash borer leaves dead ash trees brittle within a year or two. Old red oaks often hide rot at the base where a lawnmower or old construction damaged the roots decades ago. A tree with any of these problems can stand for years and then fail in a single nor'easter.
What affects the cost of removing a tree?
Tree removal cost comes down to how much work and risk the job carries. The biggest factors are the height and trunk width, whether the tree hangs over a house or wires, how close a truck can get, and how solid the wood is. Dead trees take more rigging because the limbs can snap unpredictably. Adding a stump grinding service or hauling away the logs also raises the total. You'll get a written price before any work starts.
Should you remove the tree or try to save it?
Saving a tree makes sense when the trunk is sound and the problem is limited to certain limbs or one weak union. A valuable old oak with two leaders spreading apart can often be held together with support cables for many more years. Removal is the better choice when the base is hollow, the roots are lifting, or disease has killed a large part of the crown. Paying to prop up a tree that will fail anyway only delays a more expensive job.
Tree removal questions homeowners ask
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my property?
Permit rules for tree removal depend on the property, the tree's size, and whether it sits near a road or protected area. Before we take down a large tree, we check what applies to your lot so you aren't caught by surprise.
Can you remove a tree without damaging my lawn?
Yes, in most cases. During tree removal we lower wood on ropes, lay plywood where equipment crosses the grass, and keep the chipper on the driveway or street. Soft spring ground can still show light tire marks, which we rake out.
How long does it take to remove a tree?
A small or medium tree removal is usually done in a few hours. A large oak over a house can take a full day for a crew, because every section has to be rigged and lowered.
What happens to the wood after the tree comes down?
After a tree removal, branches get chipped and hauled away. The trunk wood can be taken with us or cut to firewood length and stacked on your property, whichever you prefer.