A wicked storm has yet again settled upon Valrico, leaving a path of shell-shocked trees in its wake. You anxiously peek outside to check out the damage and spot a tree that spikes your blood pressure. Maybe its branches have made their home on power lines, or perhaps it’s leaning at a worrisome angle and you fear it might crash on your house.
Below, Central Florida Tree Care, a provider of certified tree services in Valrico, FL, explains how to handle emergency tree removal like a total pro.
Assess the Storm Damage
After the storm fades, go outside and assess the damage. Take note of trees with limbs that have badly cracked or look like they’re going to fall. Inspect tree trunks, checking for cracks, holes, and scorch marks (a surefire sign that lightning has blasted the tree).
Check out the soil around each tree, too. If the soil is a mess and you can seek roots peeking out, you’ve got a disaster waiting to happen.
Play It Safe
After your tree safety assessment, you might opt to call a pro for emergency tree removal or handle cleanup yourself. If the tree has landed on your house or is touching power lines, it’s best to let an expert handle removal for you.
If you decide to remove the tree yourself, you’ll need to prep yourself and the work area. Find someone to watch your back while you work on the tree; this helper can warn you of hazards that you might otherwise miss. Tell everyone else to stay away from the tree while you work.
Gather Your Gear
Removing storm-battered trees isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s a tough job, and you’ll need equally tough equipment to get the job done.
Everyone working on the tree, including your helper on the ground, must wear gloves, hard hats, sturdy boots, and safety goggles. All this gear might seem like overkill, but you’ll be glad you’re wearing it should something go amiss.
Next, snap up these gotta-have tools:
- Chainsaw
- Pole saw
- Loppers
- Pruning shears
- Long-handled ax
Limb Cutting and Emergency Tree Removal
To remove large branches, make a notch cut on the underside of the branch about one-quarter of the way through. Next, chop the branch just above the notch cut and it should fall away cleanly. Done! Not too tough, right?
If you’d like to nix the whole tree, use your ax to make a cut in the trunk in the direction you want the tree to drop. Cut horizontally about one-third of the way into the trunk, then make another cut above the first one at an angle. Go to the other side of the tree and make a felling cut above the notch cut to make the tree fall.
Why Risk Injury When You Can Book Crane Service?
Don’t risk handling emergency tree removal yourself; call the pros at Central Florida Tree Care instead. Contact us at (707) 521-2151 today!
