4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Deciding to Remove a Tree

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4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Deciding to Remove a Tree
4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Deciding to Remove a Tree

Being a homeowner is a difficult task, especially when you also have a backyard to worry about. It’s hard enough caring for an entire house, but when you add in its surroundings as well, that’s when things get truly complicated. However, with a little ambition and a lot of determination you can improve anything you want.

What to Consider

One main issue that you are faced with when your property has a lot of green space is removing trees. It’s no secret that the process itself is one that requires a lot of work, but there are more things that go into it than the actual sawing. Here are the four main questions to ask yourself before deciding to remove one.

Can You Remove It Yourself?

4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Deciding to Remove a Tree
4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Deciding to Remove a Tree

The first and most important question to pose when deciding to chop down a tree is whether this is something which you can pursue on your own or not. There are many factors that go into this, such as height, age and species, available yard space, tools, and so on. Consider these when making your choice.

Depending on size, as well as wood thickness and many other factors, you might need to call in an expert to cut it down for you. Unless you have extensive knowledge on the topic, cutting down a tall one is a risky business. You will require either a handsaw or a chainsaw to properly fell it.

Take out a wedge at the right angle and in the right direction to guide the fall. If you do this right, it might even start to descend right away. If not, proceed to saw it off completely. You can even yell “timber” at the top of your lungs for the full effect, but remember that this is a hard task to complete. Thus, don’t be afraid to call for professional backup.

However, according to HGTV, removing the stump is certainly something that you can attempt on your own. Smaller stumps are easier to take out, while larger ones require a lot of grinding down. But with the right clothing and machinery, you will succeed in this endeavor. And the best thing about it is that you will cut down on costs considerably.

If you decide to go about this DIY style, you must have the proper equipment for it. Safety goggles and a helmet are a must, as is proper footwear. Even if you’re not a pro yourself, buying work shoes specifically catered towards lumberjacks will definitely improve the quality of the process. Find additional info on which logger boots are best for this task and get started on your project.

Is It Damaging to Nearby Structures?

A tree that is causing structural damage is one that absolutely needs to be removed from a property. The plant can do this in a few ways. Either its roots are so extensive and thick that they completely modify drainage patterns, or it can even cause rot to eaves and lift the entire walk off if it’s positioned too close to the house.

One of the most dangerous species is the silver oak. Their massive roots block water, causing it to stay trapped in the yard instead of being flushed away. Cutting just the roots weakens and hurts the tree, which means that it will have to be taken out completely for both its sake and yours.

Furthermore, an ill-placed woody plant can impede the property from being used to its fullest potential. This is also damaging in its way, which thus means that it should ideally be removed. However, if you can work just fine around it, then you might want to consider letting it live and perhaps even using it as support for a swing set or some other type of decoration.

Can the Space Be Used Better?

green leaf tree under blue sky

Even if the tree isn’t necessarily stopping you from using your property fully, the space it occupies might still serve a better purpose. For example, if you need to come up with some extra leeway for storage, a shed is a good option. But the area is already landscaped and designed to the tiniest details, so you can’t possibly squeeze in something new.

Removing one placed in a strategic position helps clear up just enough for you to pursue other projects. But there is also another way to use that area better, and that is by adding in a new, more desirable species. Depending on the geographical region you live in and it’s climacteric particularities, some plants are better suited than others.

Putting in a healthier option will help both your yard and the environment overall. You might think that your DIY gardening projects are too small to make a difference in the world, but they are actually an important step towards better living for everyone.

How Long Has It Been There For?

If you put the tree in yourself and now have found a better use for that area, then it’s safe to assume that it can be easily taken down without any repercussions. The only aspect to worry about in this case would be your family’s emotional attachment. But if the plant came with the property, you will need to consider something else, namely its age.

If it stood the test of time for a century or more, it is an invaluable piece of flora. And these kinds of things do in fact happen. For example, the oldest tree in Great Britain was randomly discovered in a small churchyard in Wales. Thus, who’s to say the same thing can’t happen in your own backyard?

To avoid cutting down a potential national treasure, you will need to call in an expert to perform an assessment. And even if it isn’t irreplaceable and invaluable, its old age will determine how you should go about the entire removal process more precisely.

Conclusion

The very first thing to consider in any home improvement endeavor is your ability to do it all by yourself. Depending on the complexity and size of the situation, you might do just fine, or you might require to call in a professional for assistance. In the case of tree removal, the circumstances that influence this are the plant’s size and species.

But there is more to take into account. Is it damaging your property and any structures on it directly? Is it stopping you from using that space in a more prolific manner? If the answer to any of these is yes, then it’s time to take it down. But if you can somehow integrate it into your landscape ideas, then you will be able to keep it.

Finally, it’s important to assess any seemingly old trees that you didn’t plant yourself. They might be unique for the area and even declared as a protected species. Although the chances for that are small, it can still happen to anyone, so make sure to check everything before chopping it down.

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