How to Remove a Tree on Your Property
- Written by News Co Media
Removing a tree from your property can be an arduous task that requires an awful lot of forethought and planning prior to taking place. Firstly, and most importantly, you must ensure that you have sought approval (if necessary) prior to removing any trees, as not ensuring you have done this before beginning can cause you to be subject to massive fines and penalties.
Whilst the rules vary between states, it is important to follow the relevant protocols of your local area to make sure you don’t fall foul of them.
Can it be Removed?
Once you have sought the approval of your local council, it is important to obtain a second opinion who can inform you as to whether it will be possible to remove or not and, if so, will be able to advise you of how easy or difficult it is likely to be. Try searching for a local arborist to help you in your decision-making, as they are the experts and will be able to provide you with a definitive answer either way. Alternatively, once you have gotten in touch with your local council, you may find that they employ an arborist themselves to carry out the inspection and assessment.
You should, however, be aware that it is part of an arborist’s job to attempt to identify a way that the tree can be retained. Only if there is no possibility of retaining the tree for it to survive and thrive will they recommend the tree’s removal.
The Right Equipment
What equipment will most benefit you in your tree-removing endeavours most likely depends on the size of the tree you plan to remove and how deep the roots are embedded in the ground. So, for example, if you require a ladder to reach the upper limbs for removal, then the tree is too big to remove without the assistance of larger machinery.
In these circumstances, it would be much safer and faster to hire a crane that will help you reach those upper branches. Kwik crane hire will ensure that you do not have any accidents removing the upper limbs from the tree, making the job much speedier and simpler for you to complete yourself, if necessary. A dependable crane hire company, Kwik cranes are top-quality machines that are operated by friendly and helpful professionals.
Start from the Top
When removing trees, it is prudent to begin at the top of the tree, removing the main upper limbs and then gradually working down. Once the main limbs have been removed, the smaller branches can then be felled much more easily and quickly, making the trunk reachable.
Although possible to chop the trunk of the tree in one fell swoop, it is safer and generally more successful to again break this section down into chunks and stages, removing it a little at a time.
This will then leave you with a stump, which you can choose to remove or retain as you wish. If you want to remove the stump entirely, you will need a spade to dig a type of moat around the edge of the stump and roots, and then continue pushing the spade down between the stump and soil the entire way around to loosen it. Once you have completed this step, you should be able to grasp a section of the stump and move it gently – if not, continue loosening the soil around the edge of the stump until it can be pulled out.
It may seem like a difficult task initially, but once you have gained permission and gathered your equipment, the task is relatively straightforward. Just make sure you use safety equipment at all times, including a helmet, thick gloves, and goggles!
