Tree Removal

E H
by E H
Property Tree Removal
*Options I considered for this project:
I considered removing just the trees that were closest to the house and leaving several for shade but the backyard was so saturated by all of the rain, in addition to housing an older septic system, that after consulting with an arborist I decided to remove almost all of them and replant new ones. Because of the additional cost for grinding the stumps, I thought about leaving them till a later date, but after getting a referral from the contractor for a reasonable individual I opted to grind the stumps shortly after having the cut down.
*Questions and unexpected events that arose during the project:
Some of the questions that came up were 1) is removing the trees worth the effect it will have on the environment, 2) maybe I should just remove a couple and leave the rest, 3) can anyone tell just by looking at them if they are liable to fall, and can I really justify partial removal. Well, I am glad I opted to get them out of here. Nine of the 13 trees removed had root rot and you would never have known it to look at them. When the trees were cut down (especially the huge poplar tree right next to the house) there was black rot inside the trunk and who knows how long it would have been before it came tumbling down and the roots of the other trees were becoming more and more visible.
*My motivation to do this project:
When I purchased this home it was found that there were 2 large sweetgum trees that were causing foundation issues (but nothing that wouldn't be remedied by removal). After the purchase, ground saturation due to rainfall in Georgia during 2009-2010 contributed to a tremendous amount of fallen trees that could result in extreme property damage and in some cases possible loss of life. My property backs to seven acres of woodland and on my personal lot there were many mature trees that caused concern, of which several were in such close proximity of my house that I knew they would have to come down. Two of them were less than four feet causing foundation damage and one of them was positioned between the power lines in the front of the home. I contracted a local service to remove the trees and they were removed efficiently and without incident. Several of the trees were found to be diseased (inside with no external indications) and could have potentially caused damage.
*Project Steps:
I received several estimates for the job and they ranged from $2500-7000. I decided upon one company that disappeared on me. I then received another estimate from a company that agreed to do the work and they too disappeared and didn't return my calls. Then one day I saw (and heard) someone across the street in my neighbor's yard cutting down a tree. I asked for an estimate, agreed on a price and got the job done. By the way, this contractor ended up doing work for at least 5 homes on our block. After the trees were removed I called a stump grinder referred to me by the initial contractor and made arrangements to have my stumps ground (this guy also got the work from all of the homes that had trees removed). I contacted the Arbor Foundation and received a shipment of 11 saplings to be planted to replace the trees that have been removed.
Advice:
Weigh the pros and cons of tree removal and the effect it will have on the environment. Have a plan set to replace some of them if not all.
Be careful when choosing contractors, even the licensed and insured ones can be a bit unreliable.
Be proactive when it comes to your property. Trees are wonderful and great for the environment, but if they are diseased or too close to your property, they can cause more harm than good.
When having trees removed find someone to donate the lumber to, such as organizations or families with fireplaces.
The 2 trees on the left were causing foundation damage and the large tree roots were a threat to the septic system and too close to the house.
One of the 3 trees was right in the middle of power lines.
The guys did a great job and worked between the power lines.
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After
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After
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4 of 12 comments
  • Sean W Sean W on Jan 23, 2011
    Hi Ernestine, how much was the cost of the stump gringing?
    • E H E H on Mar 26, 2014
      @Sean W I know it's been years but I still wanted to answer this. I had a great stump grinder that was recommended by the tree service. He only charged $20-35 per stump if I remember correctly. It was an awesome deal.
  • BeckonsAttore BeckonsAttore on Sep 04, 2013
    But of course you can't forget the tree stump. There are tons of services that are much like tree stump removal in Calgary, you just need to look around and it can be done right in a jiffy! I don't knwo about you guys but I sure know I wouldn't want a meaningless tree stump in my yard... URL: http://www.arborcare.com/services/stump-grinding/
    • E H E H on Mar 26, 2014
      @BeckonsAttore I had a great stump grinder that was recommended by the tree service. He only charged $20-35 per stump if I remember correctly. I got a great deal!
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