How to Prepare for a Big Tree Removal

Alex’s cutting crew has quite a few large tree removals coming up and we noticed that many of our customers thoughtfully ask what they can/should do before the work begins.

I hope this list is helpful as you prepare your property for a large tree removal whether or not it is our crew completing the work!

• Consult with your arborist and tree crew about what trucks and equipment will be used, where it will be set up, and the path the machinery (such as a skid steer) will take to access the tree from the trucks and chipper.

• Once you and your tree crew are on the same page about which parts of your property will be accessed during the tree removal, remove any small objects within 10 feet of the tree and the path the machinery will travel to access the tree. This might include children’s play toys, small garden objects such as statues, pots and planters, birdbaths, individual landscape lights (normally solar-powered) that stick in the ground, and light-weight patio furniture. Our crew is happy to help move large or heavy items, or tricky hardscape stone such as flagstone. Please point these out to Alex and the crew before they begin work so they can store them safely to the side during the tree removal.

• Examine the tree itself. Do you have anything in the tree that might be damaged during removal such as a wind chime, bird feeder, flag pole bracket, string lights, rope swing, hammocks or other decorative objects that you wish to keep? If you cannot reach the object yourself, please point it out to Alex before the work begins so he can safely set it aside for you.

• If you plan to keep some of the wood from the tree, please let Alex know exactly where you want it on the property, how much you wish to keep, and what size you’d like the logs.

• If the sceptic tank is near the tree or within the path of the machinery, please point it out to Alex so that we can avoid the area.

• If possible, please try to have the lawn cut within a few days of the scheduled tree work. This makes clean-up much more efficient! The crew can do a much better job raking and blowing up at the end of the tree job when the lawn is cut short. A spotless and tidy yard is always our goal!

• Please try to clean up any pet waste in the yard before the tree job begins. We pick up logs and small debris off the ground during the job and have accidentally grabbed a handful of dog poo in the past. It is also not fun to track “land mines'“ into the trucks on our work boots! On the day of the job, please keep your pets indoors or on a leash when they are outside so that they don’t run into the hazardous area where we are working. This is not only important for the safety of your pet but for the safety of our crew as well.

• On the day of the job, please have your vehicles out of the driveway. If possible, please park them down the street as we may need to use the street spaces immediately in front of your home in addition to the driveway.

• If the tree is on a property line, please inform your neighbors that we may need to briefly access their property to retrieve a few limbs or flush cut the stump to the ground. If we ever need to bring machinery onto your neighbor’s property, we will let you know well in advance so you have ample time to speak with them.

   

  As always, if you have any questions or concerns about your upcoming tree work or how you can prepare, please reach out! We appreciate your help and cooperation in preparing for a large tree removal. It makes our jobs run smoothly and protects your property from accidental damage.