There are several reasons why you might need to seek emergency tree removal services. Maybe you have a diseased tree on your property that poses a potential hazard to you and your family. Or, maybe a tree was damaged during a recent storm and the tree or some of its limbs are now in precarious positions. Or, perhaps you simply need a tree or stump removed quickly in order to accommodate timely events, like an open house or a planned construction project.
Regardless of your reason for needing to urgently remove a tree from your property, it’s important to use a certified arborist rather than taking matters into your own hands.
Potential Hidden Dangers when Removing Trees
While it can be tempting to remove a tree yourself, there are several hidden dangers that could pose the risk of injury to yourself, to others, and to your property. A professional with the right equipment and experience can avoid potentially dangerous situations, including the following:
- Nearby Utility Lines: This one should seem obvious, but you need to take extra precautions when a tree falls on or even near power lines. Not only is there a risk of bodily injury, but there’s also the potential of knocking out the line entirely which can affect your neighbors for miles around.
- Placement of Other Trees and Structures: Trees that are under stress can react unexpectedly. Broken limbs dangling over people or property can cause serious harm if not removed properly.
- Overall Condition of the Damaged Tree: A tree that is diseased or poorly maintained can have some structural damage that may not be outwardly apparent. These trees could split, drop limbs or completely fall without warning.
Does Tree Removal Cost More Under Emergency Circumstances?
There are many factors at play when determining the cost of an emergency tree removal. Ultimately, removing a tree quickly will likely come at a premium; however, be sure to consider the cost of having to wait days or even weeks for a crew to come to your home.
Factors that can influence the cost of emergency tree removal services include:
- The urgency of the situation: While many tree services are available 24 hours a day, a request outside of normal business hours is likely going to come at a higher price.
- Nearby obstacles and general degree of difficulty: Will workers need to navigate their equipment around power lines or other obstacles, like fences and gates, or is the affected tree in an open space? The removal of the former will likely be more expensive because of the level of difficulty.
- Tree size: The larger the tree, the more expensive the project will likely be.
- Stump removal: Not all tree removal services include stump grinding. There may be an additional cost if you want the stump removed, as well.
- Hauling wood: Along the same lines, some emergency tree removal services will not include the cost of hauling away the remnants of the tree.
The Value of Preventative Tree Service
The good news is that you don’t have to wait for the situation to turn dire. There are several things that you can do to take care of the trees on your property today so that you don’t have to worry about the costs and potential damage or emergency tree removal in the future.
- Clear leaves: No one likes to rake fallen leaves, but ultimately, clearing dead leaves from your yard can help your grass breathe and keep your trees healthy. Rotting leaves can attract diseases and unwanted pests that you don’t want to spread to your trees.
- Keep an eye out for symptoms of an unhealthy tree: Is your tree suddenly leaning? Are there signs of damage or soil erosion at the roots? Does the trunk have cracks or is bark falling off? Was there any discoloration in the leaves of the tree’s canopy during the spring or summer? All of these could be signs that your tree has a disease of some kind.
- Prune your trees: The optimal time to prune your tree is right before it goes into dormancy. Trim your trees so that they don’t come into close contact with structures or wires, and consider “deadwooding” any trees or limbs that could attract fungi and diseases that can weaken an otherwise healthy tree.
Learn more about Townsend’s Emergency Storm Response & Restoration Services.
