Trees are both beautiful and beneficial, helping to improve the property value of your home while also protecting you from the elements and providing a place to enjoy outside. Nevertheless, trees are also a huge responsibility. They must be properly taken care of. Otherwise, they will become a hazard. Falling branches can pose a hazard to people and property. Termites and other pests can move from an unhealthy tree into other nearby plants and even into houses, where they can cause a great deal of harm.
If a tree becomes a hazard, it will often need to be removed. Removing a tree, however, is often more complex than simply cutting it down. Cutting a tree down does nothing to address the issue of roots. An out of control root system can cause just as much damage as the tree itself. In their never-ending quest for water, these roots can cause sidewalks to buckle and pipes to burst.
So how do you remove the whole thing, roots and all? It’s certainly more challenging than just grabbing your chainsaw and cutting away, but, fortunately, it can be done. Read on for more information on how to remove a tree with roots.
The Right Equipment for the Job
Any job that involves tree removal requires some specialized equipment, which you’ll need to make sure you have available. First and foremost, safety equipment is key: protecting yourself and anyone else nearby should be your biggest priority. Make sure you have eye protection, a helmet, steel-toe boots, thick leather gloves, and a dust mask. If you’re utilizing heavy power tools, you’ll also need ear protection, such as earplugs or earmuffs. Anyone helping you should have this gear as well. If you need to climb into the tree in order to cut away branches, you should also make sure you have a climbing harness.
Next, you’ll need to make sure you have everything you need for the actual job. Some pruning shears and a chainsaw are necessary for cutting down the tree itself. You’ll also need something to help you get rid of the stump. The quickest and easiest way to do this is with a stump grinder, although these can be very expensive to rent for a day.
Making Sure It’s Safe
You should always have a plan in place before you begin cutting down a tree. When you cut away the branches, where will they land? Will there be any risk to nearby property when the tree falls? If so, you need a plan to guide the tree to fall in such a way that it won’t damage anything nearby. The best way to plan this is to measure the height of the tree and then measure a radius around it that’s about twice the tree’s height. You’ll also want to inform everyone in your home or who might be in the area of what you are doing. It’s important no one gets in the path of the job while it’s taking place.
An important part of safety when cutting down a tree is ensuring you have someone to assist you with the job. You may need a hand with larger parts of the job. It’s also a good idea to have a second set of eyes to make sure that no crucial details with regards to safety are missed. Make sure you and your partner are in constant communication, always aware of what the other person is doing and looking out for each other’s safety.
Cutting Down the Tree
Before you cut down the tree, you may need to cut away some of the larger branches. To do this, you may have to climb into the tree. A tree that’s being removed is often unhealthy, so take great care when you do this to avoid stepping on a branch that may break away. Once the tree has been properly pruned, you should cut at an angle—about 70 degrees—to allow the tree to fall in the direction you have planned. You’ll cut in this direction until you have removed a solid chunk of the tree. The rest of the cutting will be done straight through the trunk. Finally, allow the tree to fall.
Removing the Stump
Removing the tree stump can be a simple matter if you have a stump grinder. However, as we mentioned above, this can be an expensive rental. Other methods of stump removal include burning it away or rotting it with chemicals. In either case, you’ll drill into the stump and insert a funnel, allowing a tree stump removal chemical to flow in. Over time, this will break down the cell walls of the wood, causing it to become soft and spongey and easily removed.
Always check to ensure that your chosen method is legal in your area and can be done safely. Often, this is the part of the job that takes the longest, but for safety reasons, do not attempt to rush it.
Dealing with the Roots
Removing a tree with roots can be a challenge because the roots will often continue to grow, even long after the rest of the tree has been removed. They can be difficult to get under control, and since they are underground, they cannot easily be cut away. Visible roots should be cut apart and can also have stump remover poured into them. This will cause them to rot away. Eventually, deeper roots will rot away and become part of the soil as well, but it’s critical that as much of the root system has been removed first.
Getting Help with the Job
In many cases, property owners may decide that removing a tree with roots is too large of a task to undertake on their own. If that’s the case, it’s always an option to seek the help of a professional tree service to handle the job for you. Contact a reputable business like Mr. Tree, which can handle every aspect of the job, from cutting down the tree to removing the stump to getting rid of the roots. Afterward, they can even help you plant a new tree in the same spot if you so desire.
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