DIY Danger: 7 Reasons to Hire a Pro for Dead Tree Removal

Do you have a dead or dying tree in your yard?

Are you thinking about saving money by removing it yourself?

DON’T DO IT!

All it takes is a simple Google search to see pages of news reports about tree-trimming accidents resulting in death. Read these reports, and you’ll see that almost all these accidents happened to professionals who were wearing the proper safety gear and following procedures.

Dead tree removal is dangerous work that the average person should never attempt. In fact, the job of arborist (a.k.a. tree surgeon) is one of Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Jobs.

Still not convinced? Check out this list of seven reasons why you must hire a professional company to remove a dead or dying tree.

1. Injury to Yourself

There are countless ways you can hurt yourself while trying to remove a dead tree. A falling branch could knock you off your ladder, or you could lose your footing and fall on your own. You could hit a hidden electrical line and die from electrocution.

Chainsaws designed to power through large tree branches will cut off human limbs like a hot knife through butter. Even if you’re experienced with a chainsaw, you could hit a bolt, nail, or another metal object in the tree, causing the chainsaw to lurch back in unpredictable ways. Other tools like woodchippers, cranes, and pulleys can also malfunction, creating inherent danger.

2. Injury to Others

Not only are you putting your own life and limb at risk by trying to DIY your tree removal, but you could also injure or kill others nearby. It’s not uncommon for neighbors, loved ones, or passers-by to want to watch the tree removal process. One false move from you and you’ll be stuck with a lifetime of regret, not to mention a major financial liability.

3. Unexpected Dangers

Tree professionals know which way a tree will fall by observing the way it’s shaped, how it’s leaning, and the structure of the canopy. Once you make that final cut, gravity takes over and there’s nothing more you can do to control where the tree goes. If you haven’t done this right, there’s a huge potential for serious problems.

When trees are dead and the wood is rotting, both individual branches and the tree itself become even more unstable. Sometimes companies will bring in cranes to help guide the trees down and minimize risk. In all these situations, it’s easy to see that an untrained person could create a serious liability.

4. Property Damage

The money you’ll save by doing your own tree removal will quickly become meaningless if a tree or branch falls on your (or your neighbor’s!) home, car, or garage. Not only will you have to deal with the financial liability in the form of out-of-pocket costs and potentially higher insurance rates, but you’ll probably also have a few angry individuals on your hands. 

Unless you’re planning to move soon, you won’t want to be forever known in your neighborhood as “that guy.” This is one more reason to do everybody a favor by stepping away from the chainsaw calling a professional.

5. Professional Equipment & Experience

Proper tree-cutting equipment is expensive and isn’t worth the cost for a single tree. Once you buy a chainsaw, ladder, ropes, ax, wedges, and protective gear, you’ll end up spending more than it would cost you to hire a pro.

In addition to the standard chainsaw, professionals also use equipment like pole saws, extendable chainsaws, and cranes. Stump-grinding also requires specialized equipment and the knowledge to safely use it.

Tree professionals also have the experience and knowledge to know if your tree is dead or if it’s possible to salvage it. Since many homeowners hate to lose their large, old trees, rehab is usually the preferred choice if possible. Sometimes professional trimming is enough to remove the dead areas and nurse your tree back to life.  

6. Hauling and Clean-Up

After a dead tree has been felled, the remains have to go somewhere. If you do the job yourself, you’ll have to move all the wood, raking, and clearing off your driveway, pathways, and even the roof. Most cities won’t take that much yard waste, so you’ll need a sturdy truck and a place to take the wood.

Tree stump grinding also creates a mess of sawdust and wood chips. Often, cleaning up after tree removal is as much (if not more) work than the removal itself. When you hire a pro to take care of your tree removal, clean up and haul-away are typically included. 

7. Peace of Mind

Most professional tree companies are licensed, bonded, and insured. This means that you can have the peace of mind in knowing that problems are unlikely and if they do occur you won’t have to deal with the liability.

By having dead or damaged trees removed proactively, you won’t have to worry about them falling during storms and causing damage to your property.

GreenTopps: Your Dead Tree Removal Specialists

When you need dead tree removal, you’ll want to work with a specialist you can trust. At GreenTopps, we provide true quality work that we stand behind.

Not only do we provide tree removal services, but we can also handle all your lawn and landscaping needs. Contact us today to discuss your project and learn how we can help.