What Happens to All the Wood After Tree Removal?

There are many reasons why you may choose to have a tree removed from your landscape. Dying or dead trees can pose a hazard to people and property. Trees that have structural defects such as split trunks or those that overhang buildings or powerlines may need to be removed — or at the very least, trimmed back. Other times, trees may suffer damage at the hands of insects or fungi, weakening the structure and contributing to brittleness and limb breakage. Finally, damage from lightning strikes, high winds and other storm-related factors can make a tree potentially unsafe and in need of removal. 

Removing a tree safely is not a job for the average homeowner. A tree care professional understands which trees can be remediated and left in place and which need to be taken down. They also have the equipment and knowledge to remove your tree safely — without endangering people and pets or damaging your property.  

After your tree has been safely cut, you can choose to keep the wood or let your tree removal specialist dispose of it for you.  

What Can I Do with Wood After a Tree is Cut Down? 

After your tree is cut down, you will be left with a lot of wood in the form of trunk sections, branches, roots and the stump. If you choose to keep the wood, there are many ways to repurpose it, such as:  

Firewood 

Using your downed tree for firewood is a great way to repurpose excess timber. Just remember that not all types of wood are suitable for firewood. Some trees are notoriously hard to split and can also be very smoky when burned. Conifers, hemlocks and some deciduous trees such as willows and Aspens don’t make good firewood while oaks, hickories, sugar maples and white ashes produce high-quality logs that burn well.  

Mulch or Wood Chips 

Not every branch or stump can be chipped or used as mulch. Typically, you’ll want to use smaller branches if you have an at-home chipper. Thicker branches and stumps may need to be fed into a land-clearing towable chipper, which can be expensive. However, sometimes tree removal companies will bring a towable chipper onsite and mulch as they cut.  

Fencing 

You can create a beautiful, rustic fence along your property line by placing logs along the line or using straight limbs for fence posts. If you choose to do this, remember that this untreated wood will become a haven for insects and fungi as it decomposes. 

On-site Burning 

If brush burning is legal in your area, you may be able to burn the wood in place. You will first need to make sure the wood is dry, placing a tarp over the woodpile if rain is expected. Depending on the tree species, it may take anywhere from six months to a year for it to become fully dry and ready to burn. 

Wildlife Habitat 

If you have a large property, you can leave piles of branches and logs to serve as wildlife habitats for raccoons, possum and other creatures. Just remember that these brush piles may also attract insects, venomous snakes and other undesirables.  

Craft Projects 

Wood stumps, branches and even bark can be used to make furnishings, carved totems and even jewelry. There are many ways to creatively repurpose wood from a tree removal — just be aware that you may want to “rescue” only a few choice pieces and leave the rest for your tree removal company to clear away. 

Other Ways to Use Wood from Downed Trees

Typically, homeowners let professional tree removal services remove the remnants of downed trees, even removing stumps so that the landscape is returned to pristine condition. When this occurs, the wood from the removed trees can be reused in several ways: 

Log Yards 

Some trees can produce timber that can be graded and used at a log yard. However, most wood, even that which is sold to log yards, ends up being pulpwood-grade, which requires it to be put through a woodchipper, chipped and turned into particle boards and paper products. 

Mulch 

Wood chips from removed trees can be used as mulch — even being used by power plants who are turning to biomass technology for energy usage. But adding wood chip mulch is popular with many gardeners as it keeps weed growth down, adds nutrients back into the soil as the wood decays and helps the soil to retain moisture.  

Landscapers 

Landscape suppliers and nurseries are always in need of wood chip mulch, so any that homeowners don’t want or need can often be shared with these businesses.  

Even if you are not having a tree removed, you can often contact a tree service company and get wood chip mulch delivered from one of their other removal projects. 

Townsend Arborcare Can Handle All Aspects of Tree Removal

Removing a tree or trees from your landscape is a big decision — one that you should make in concert with a certified arborist. Once you’ve determined that it is in the best interest of your property to take down a tree, your arborist can ensure that it is done properly, with attention to safety and to minimize potential damage to property and structures. 

At Townsend Arborcare, we are experts in the tree removal process. From assessment to removal, our team of experts has the knowledge and specialized equipment necessary to avoid damaging property while keeping everyone safe during the process. Once your tree is successfully downed, we can take care of the details, removing all the detritus — including the stump — and leaving your property pristine. 

Tree removal is not a DIY project. Contact a Townsend Arborcare consultant at 317-420-8548 (Indiana) or 440-578-7249 (Ohio) and learn how our tree removal specialists can quickly and safely remove your tree or trees.