Tree removal needs can come about for a variety of different reasons. They may be in the way of construction, becoming entangled in power lines, dead or dying, or diseased. Tree removal consists of removing tree branches, cutting down the trunk in pieces, and grinding out the stump.

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If a tree is small enough (usually 12” caliper and under 20’ in height) the tree can be notched on the side to fall in the safest most practical direction to be cut up into manageable pieces with a hacksaw or chainsaw. Larger trees will typically need to be done high above ground by a company specializing in tree removal.

For large trees, the equipment typically utilized for this work is a ‘cherry picker’ (motorized or electrical man bucket on the end of a crane). This piece of equipment can be independent or attached to a truck. It will typically have outriggers which will brace and balance the machine as the work progresses and the bucket moves about the tree. A dump truck or flat bed will also be required for hauling off large branch and trunk pieces that can’t be chipped. Lastly a chipper machine chews up the managable branches and debris and spews them into the back of the dump truck. A small skidsteer or front end loader with a branch/debris grapple will move around at grade picking up dropped branches and moving them to the chipper.

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First the man in the bucket ascends up and around the tree cutting down small limbs as he goes, which fall to the ground. Then he will focus on the larger branches coming off the trunk. These typically are rigged with rope and different specialized connections prior to making the cut, which provide for a safer release once they are cut through fully.