Cutting down tall trees in small spaces requires many things. If you have taken the time to study a large tree on your urban or suburban property, then you have no doubt come to the conclusion that it will not be as simple as cutting it and watching it fall. In fact, about 9 out of 10 trees that are removed in Northern Virginia require advanced rigging techniques that only trained professionals should be trusted to employ.
But to take this a step further, sometimes even the more advanced rigging techniques can fall short. For example, a limb that is cut from the tree and lowered using an overhead pulley and a ground-level friction device can sometimes become lodged in the canopy if its fall trajectory is not exactly as predicted at the time of the cut. This is when it becomes important that the crew performing the removal is well-prepared. Because at this point the force on the load must be reconsidered and redirected in order to safely bring it to the ground.
Blog by ProArbor :: Info and Help on Tree Care
Cutting Down Tall Trees in Small Places - the art of Tree Removal
Save the tree or replace it? Snow damaged trees and your landscape restoration
The unusual heavy snowfall in Northern Virginia has brought a large amount of casualties of bent-over and broken trees. The trees in this region are ill-equipped to handle the stress of heavy snowfall and, as a result, many of them have suffered in various ways. Many have broken limbs. Some have toppled over completely. Others have bent to a low posture leaving us to wonder if they might stand up again.
The question most asked of arborists this season has been “can you save it?” The answer is dependent, of course, on the situation. There is a solution for every problem. This one – like most – is answered in terms of economics. When considering the fate of a damaged tree on your property, you should ask yourself how much that particular tree means to you. Its value may be sentimental ; planted as a memorial or celebration. Or its value may be strictly utilitarian; it hides the view of my neighbor’s unfortunate pension for Canadian hockey and antique tractors.
Tree Damage from Snow Storms - What You Need to Do:
Many of us have suffered losses and damages to our trees as result of the record-breaking snowfall this season. Now comes the task of doing something about it. Here are some points to keep in mind when addressing the issue of tree damage from snow.
Bent Trees
Many trees have bent over under the weight of the snow. In some cases when we remove the snow from the boughs, the tree returns slowly toward its original upright position. However, things have happened to the wood fiber that will remain factors for the tree. The fibers on the outside of the bend have been put under tension, and the fibers on the inside have been put under compression. This will make it more likely that the tree will bend in the same way if forces act upon it in the same way. But if force is placed in the opposite direction the tree is now more likely to break because the compression wood will become tension wood and not have the elasticity to handle it. In some cases the root structures of the trees have been torn. This is evident when you look at the base of the tree. If the angle of the trunk of the tree has changed, then there has been tearing of the roots underground. This situation is very likely to lead to future failure, and tree removal should be a consideration.
Broken Branches
You may notice that some trees have lost branches at various places in the canopy. In most cases, this can be addressed by making good tree pruning cuts that will promote healing during the growing season. Any loose branches should be removed, and clean cuts made. An arborist can help you to determine if the branch loss is severe enough to kill the tree.
Invasive Weeds
Recently, while working on a tree removal project in Arlington, Virginia, I bumped into a technician from the Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation named Karsten Ziemann. Mr. Ziemann said that he was particularly happy to be doing his job that day. "Usually I'm killing things, but today I get to plant things!" he exclaimed. He went on to explain to me that his department is endeavoring to reclaim some of the county's park space from non-native invasive weeds. To accomplish this, Mr. Ziemann and his colleagues are planting specimens of the native variety of underbrush to compete with the non-natives. One might wonder why such an effort would be made to control weeds. Before you write to your elected official about wasting tax dollars, let me assure you that this is a good thing! Invasive non-native weeds (especially vines) are a serious threat to the native species of trees that we enjoy here. In fact, researchers at Cornell University have estimated an annual cost to our nation's economy at $120 billion.
Let's back up for a moment. How can weeds be such a problem? After all, they're plants - producers of oxygen, green, flowering, carbon-consuming, animal-feeding.... our friends, right? The problem is that some species are newcomers to our region and, when allowed to go unchecked, become quite disruptive to the local ecology. So, just as we have introduced them to our area, we should manage them if we are to be good stewards of our ecosystem. Non-native plant species can eventually overwhelm the native species by crowding them out and over-consuming nutrients and light. The result is an unnatural change in the growth of our urban forest. Simply put, the trees that make Northern Virginia so beautiful can lose their homefield advantage and become endangered.
Stuck in a tree
I have often used the phrase "stuck in a tree" in response to the casual "What're you up to?" question. As I am a practicing tree climber with a busy schedule, it is probably the response that most who know me would expect. But those who know me also know that I am more happy to be "stuck" in a tree than in a lot of other places. Up there the air seems fresher, the view is better, and everything just seems to happen with more purpose and clarity than at the pedestrian level. So I suppose it would give the many teachers, counselors, professors, and friends who witnessed my erratic career path some comfort to know that I am finally happy up in my tree.
The Cost of Tree Cutting: Pros versus Amateurs
Recently, my company started a tree removal project in Falls Church, VA. The homeowner called Pro Arbor after becoming frustrated over dealing with another company. That company (a small landscaping company) quoted a price in the beginning and, as the project got started, they realized that more labor and equipment was needed than they originally thought. So, instead of honoring the commitment made in the original proposal, the owner of the company stopped work and asked for more money. The scope of the work had not changed, but still the price was going up.
When I heard of this, I was reminded of a saying that my grandfather used, “If you think it’s expensive to hire professionals, you should try an amateur!” Throughout my years in business the meaning of this statement has become more clear. At first glance, it may appear costly to hire trained professionals to complete any task. But what is not clear at first glance is how costly it can be to hire the apparently cheaper amateur.
