While trees are often beautiful and can add value to a property, they aren’t always beneficial. In some cases, trees can become diseased, damaged, or encroach dangerously close to your home, which poses a risk for roof and property damage. In such cases, it may be advantageous to remove the tree entirely. However, hiring a tree removal service can be expensive. To save some money, take a look at these tips for DIY small tree removal and take matters into your own hands.
Recognize the Risks
Before embarking on a DIY tree removal project, it’s important to recognize the risks involved. When removing a tree, you may need to cut down a few branches first which poses the risk of falling and hurting yourself. In addition, there is also the potential for the tree to fall in an unexpected direction and land on you or your property.
As such, it is important to thoroughly clear the area around the tree and ensure that people keep a distance of at least double the tree’s height and plan an escape route for yourself. If you feel uncomfortable during any point in the removal process, don’t hesitate to contact a professional. After all, hiring a tree removal service is likely less expensive than hospital bills from a serious injury.
Equip Yourself With Essential Safety Equipment
As we have just addressed, tree removal—no matter how small—can pose several safety threats. In order to stay safe and reduce your potential for getting injured in the process, it’s important to equip yourself with essential safety equipment before you begin. Necessary safety gear for removing a small tree will likely include a helmet, goggles, steel-toed shoes, full-coverage clothing, and durable gloves.
Saturate the Soil in Advance
Another tip for DIY small tree removal that will make the tree’s roots and stump easier to remove is to saturate the soil around it. Thoroughly watering the soil around the tree will soften it and the tree will thus come out more easily. Ideally, the soil around the tree should be saturated a day in advance for the best results.
Don’t Leave Anything Behind
In order to prevent the tree from growing right back up after you chop it down, you will need to thoroughly remove its stump and root ball—especially if the tree is diseased. To do so, dig out the dirt around the stump and roots. Then, use a stump grinder to eliminate the stump.
Upon doing so, you will need to remove the root ball using a tool such as a spade to slide under the root and pull it out. When removing the root ball, you should typically dig around 6 inches deep and roughly 9 to 12 inches in diameter for every inch of the tree’s diameter.
If you are unable to remove the stump and roots with a root grinder, shovel, and spade, you may need to enlist the aid of heavier equipment to get the job done. In such a case, a skid steer loader with a grapple bucket attachment will likely do the trick.
Van Rundell is a writer and author who specializes in transportation, travel, guidance, health & fitness. With over 10 years of experience in the industry as a driver and an entrepreneur, he has seen it all. His tone is professional but friendly with a dash of humor thrown in for good measure. In past, he has been advising, educating and writing about transport for the public and professionals alike.
A qualified fitness instructor with over 5 years’ experience as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, Van brings his deep knowledge of health and exercise science to his articles on health & fitness.
