Our Step-by-step process
1. Assessment and Quoting
Everything starts with an on-site visit. A certified arborist or tree technician evaluates the tree’s health, structural integrity, and proximity to "targets" (houses, power lines, or fences).
- Hazard Identification: Checking for rot, leaning, or precarious limbs.
- The Plan: Deciding if the tree needs pruning, trimming, full removal, or just cable bracing.
- The Estimate: You will receive a written quote detailing the scope of work, cleanup, and insurance coverage.
2. Site Preparation and Safety
On the day of service, the crew sets up a "drop zone." Safety is the top priority here.
- Clearing the Area: Moving lawn furniture, vehicles, or potted plants.
- Traffic Control: If the tree is near a road, they may set up cones or flaggers.
- PPE Check: The crew suits up in helmets, eye protection, and ear protection.
3. The Execution (The Heavy Lifting)
This is where the actual work happens. Depending on the goal, the process varies:
- Pruning/Trimming: Removing deadwood or thinning the canopy to allow wind and light to pass through.
- Sectional Removal: For trees in tight spaces, a climber or bucket operator cuts the tree from the top down, often using ropes and pulleys (rigging) to lower heavy pieces safely. If necessary a crane will do the heavy lifting.
- Felling: If there is enough room, the tree is notched at the base and dropped in one piece in a controlled direction.
4. Debris Management
A tree creates a surprising amount of "waste." A professional crew handles it in three ways:
- Chipping: Small branches go into a wood chipper and are turned into mulch.
- Log Cutting: Large trunk sections are either hauled away or cut into manageable "rounds" for the homeowner to use as firewood.
- Raking: The site is raked clean of twigs and sawdust.
5. Stump Grinding (Optional)
Unless specified, we leave the stump a few inches above ground level. If you've requested stump grinding:
- A machine grinds the stump 6–12 inches below the soil line.
- The hole is filled with the resulting mulch/dirt mixture. Unless other specified during quoting.