Tree Removal Methods

Tree Removal Methods

Hey guys certified arborists world champion tree climber here with your stihl pro tip. Anytime you want to cut a tree down the first and foremost thing you must think about is doing a proper assessment in that the assessment is going to tell you what you need to know to get out of there safely and get the job done right. The first part of a good assessment starts by looking at the hazards. If there’s any present you want to identify them before they come back to haunt you.

I look for electrical hazard first and foremost. The next thing I’m looking for are things that could affect my personal safety or any one of my crew. On that list, first and foremost would be looking for branches that are just lodged in the tree hanging there waiting to fall out otherwise known as widow-makers. Another hazard would be large dead sections. Large dead sections can come loose during the felling operation and when they fall they usually fall right where the person is making that cut. Lastly in our scenario we have what i call the hidden hazards and that’s vines they’re very hard to see and what makes them such a hazard as they can do a few things to you if you don’t pick them up. One is they can keep the tree from falling on course and hold and suspend the tree in midair which creates another hazard. They could swing the tree off course if it breaks free from the hinge or it could break something out behind you as you’re making the cut which is just a bad scenario.

All right, once we identify all the hazards there next on our list is to assess the tree. First and foremost is will the tree fit. If the tree will fit next thing I’m looking for is assessing the tree for a few things. One is I want to know if there’s any kind of lean. We usually look to see if the tree is forward lean, back lean or side lean. That will tell me what I need to compensate for to get the tree where we intend it to go. Now when I’m talking about assessing the tree I’m not just looking at the trunk. That’s part of it, the other part is looking at the branch structure because if you have so many branches leaning out one way or the other it’s going to help determine which way the tree wants to go when it’s released.

The next step is working on our work zone to make sure it’s free of debris and clear of any kind of tripping hazards. I just finished cutting down all the underbrush now we’re going to go in and start moving it out of our way. Now the work zone is almost clear the last thing we must deal with is if the tree is uprooted is putting pressure on the trunk. We need to get rid of that and get all the debris out the way. We’re going to take care of it all right now we got our work zone clear and the debris removed off the trunk so we should be just about ready to go.

When I’m trying to do with my face cuts is making knots in the front of the tree basically about 70 degrees or wider to allow the tree to come all the way over before it breaks the hinge and I’m going to a depth of approximately a third way in or less which is about eighty percent of the overall width. That’s what I really need to try to do to make the perfect cut.

All right let’s make our first cut. One thing I like to do is halfway through my top cut is stop and shut this off and then look at your site and make sure you’re on the path you intend to be. If not, you make time to make an adjustment before anything happens. Once we make the face cut the next step is going to be setting up our hinge. We’re going to do something called a board cut here because we want to use wedges because the tree has very little lean. We want to make sure it goes where we intend it to go and doesn’t sit back on us. I’m going to come just behind the face cut about an inch back into the tree and cut all the interior out leaving the back called a strap on there and we’re going to hammer wedges in.

That’s all there is to this type of tree removal job. Just be safe and methodical and keep your eyes open at all times.

Trim Trees Before Monsoons

Trim Trees Before Monsoons

The pacific northwest is known for rain but the monsoons of the Phoenix AZ desert are far harder on trees. The monsoons produce much more rain and wind damage per storm. The winds can easily be gale force and damage trees frequently in the monsoon season. These storms are often called micro-bursts and they leave a trail of branches and fallen trees regularly. Try driving around the Phoenix metro after one of these storms. Fallen trees and limbs will be everywhere the storm was. These storms can easily cause trees to fall over and sustain damage that will later kill the tree. Much of this can be avoided by using proper tree care methods and choosing the right tree service company.Phoenix Trees

How To Trim Desert Trees

It is best to use a professional tree removal and tree trimming company for the best results. Doing a good job trimming trees is more than just cutting branches. The way the branches and trunks naturally grow make a big difference on how best to trim the tree. Sometimes certain branches should not be trimmed as they may kill the tree if done improperly. On the other hand some branches should definitely be removed before they are broken in a fierce windstorm in the monsoon seasons. Murphey’s law will most likely come true because the branch tht breaks and falls will likely be the one over your favorite car or patio furniture.

Be sure to cut the bark between the tree and the cut when removing branches. Sometimes the branch will fall and strip the bark off the tree as the branch falls. Most of the time this does not cause the tree to die but it surely looks bad and opens the tree up to more chance of desiease and trauma. Take the extra few seconds to slice the bark so this won’t happe. You and the tree will be happy you did.

Desert Trees

Desert Trees

desert climate zone for trees

Trees that are adapted for the desert environment have special watering needs. Hot climate zones such as those higher than the USDA zone 8 classification have a limited number of trees that are useful for residential and commercial landscape purposes. Therefore, it is important to make the correct choice when selecting appropriate trees for these areas. Tree trimming of desert trees must be done at the right time of the year. If the tree trimming is done incorrectly it is easy to kill the tree because of the high desert temperatures. When this happens tree removal becomes necessary and added expenses and labor are incurred. The wrong tree choice will lead to the tree dying and the landscape company most likely replanting a tree on their own dime.  It is usually the best practice to take critical notice of what trees are thriving in your area.  Whether you live in the south of Texas with the famous Texas heat or areas such as the Sonora Desert in the Phoenix Arizona area there are trees that will thrive in these environments with proper care.

How to Plant Trees in the Desert

Most of the soil in a desert environment is sedimentary and may have a high content of clay. Most of these soils are highly alkaline also. When planting a young new tree whether it is your typical 15 gallon size or the larger box trees that come in a box ranging from 36 inches to 48 inches and even greater it is imperative that the soil be prepared well for the tree to survive the shock of transplanting in these harsher environments.  Because of the severe heat in these areas with temperatures of 115 degrees in Arizona, plenty of water is necessary to establish the tree.  Make note of the fact that often the soil does not drain well. It may be necessary to put some mixture of soil around the tree ball before planting it. Adding some nutrients is not a bad idea but make sure they are well mixed into the amended soil before placing the tree in the ground. The last thing you want to do is burn the roots of this newly transplanted tree. Also, make sure that before you back fill the hole completely you add water during the process and make sure there are no air pockets at the root ball and amended soil. The best way to accomplish this is to set the tree in the hole add some water then add some of the amended soil and some more water. Do this several times and the water will settle the amended soil around the rootpalo-verde-tree ball making sure there are no air pockets. Because of the added oil is not compacted as well as the surrounding undisturbed soil make sure to tamp around the root ball when you get to grade level and at each addition of soil.  It is often a good idea to stake the tree to stabilize it from the high winds that occur in desert areas.

Watering Desert Trees

More water will be needed to be applied to the tree in its first year of life in the ground after transplanting than is years after the tree is well established. It is also necessary to make sure that the water goes deep enough into the ground to get to the tree root system. Never put the trees on the same irrigation zone az grass.  Because of the short watering cycles that grass requires only the surface of the ground will absorb the water, perhaps to only a few inches of depth.  This is nowhere near deep enough for the root system of the tree. Therefore, make sure, if possible, to put trees on their own drip zone and irrigate them for much longer periods of time but much less frequently than grass.  It is very common in the Llndscapes around Phoenix and the suburbs like Mesa etc. to see shrubs and trees on the same irrigation zone. This can work but puts additional stress on the tree and the tree will not be as healthy as it can be. It is much better to add another zone or two specifically for watering the different types of trees. This way the trees can be watered 2 or 3 times a week for the first year on much longer cycles which insures water getting down to the new root system of the tree.  Shrubs, on the other hand, need more frequent water than trees generally in the hot desert.  Shrubs also have a much shallower root system so the duration of the watering cycle need not be as high as for trees.  To add another zone of irrigation specific for the trees does not cost the landscape company that much more money for a typical residential landscape. In these type applications, trees and shrubs are near one another so the main supply lines can typically be placed in the same trench.  So the incremental cost increases from the added materials and added labor to install the extra drip line or two for the trees. If you are a new homeowner and are having a landscape professionally installed or even doing it yourself pay the extra money to have the trees on their own drip system and you will reap the benefits for years to come.

Tree Trimming of Desert Trees

Never top a tree.  This means not cutting the topmost branches of the tree canopy. The incredibly intense heat from the sun which occurs in the desert can easily kill a tree that has been topped.  When tree trimming is necessary, make sure that you know what you are doing or you hire a certified Arborist who is skilled in keeping trees healthy. He will know exactly what to do to get the best results. Yes, you may save some money doing it yourself but if you are going to do a major tree trimming job on your trees it is best to leave it to the professionals. The risk is doing it wrong and killing the tree. Now it will be necessary to remove the tree and replant a new tree.  A certified arborist at Mesa Trees in Mesa Arizona explains that tree trimming and removal in Mesa is a common occurrence even in the desert. Tree removal is no easy task and is back breaking work.  Not only that but you will likely need to do what is called a stump grind to grind the remaining stump below grade and then cover it with rock or whatever you are using. These machines are expensive and hard to operate as well as they can be very dangerous. Another downside to this scenario is that you will not be able to plant another tree in the same location because of the remaining root ball below grade. So, if you have a beautiful tree providing shade to your property at just the right location make sure to keep it healthy and avoid a tree removal job. There are just too many negatives and downsides associated with not keeping your desert tree healthy.

Avoiding Tree Removal

To sum it all up we highly recommend the use of certified Arborist when it comes making decisions about your trees. Trees are a long-term benefit and a long-term investment. The payback of doing it right from the beginning is a beautiful tree providing much-needed shade in our hot desert environment. If not done properly then the expensive tree removal and excessive tree trimming are necessary.  No one likes spending money on unnecessary expenses. Keep your trees healthy by trimming them in the correct manner and watering them sufficiently. Avoid having to remove the trees because they have died or are threatening your roof tops because of improperly trimmed branches and tree trimming.

Safe Tree Removal

Safe Tree Removal

Tree removal can be a dangerous job. It also requires a lot of manual work. Using the right equipment can greatly speed up the job. The right equipment also can make the job much safer. Most homeowners do not have any of this tree removal and trimming equipment.

It is best to leave tree removal jobs to the professionals who have the skill and equipment needed to get the job done fast, safely and cleanly.

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