D. Hudson

How Much Does Tree Removal Cost?

This often asked, often googled question is difficult to answer, because so many variables must be accounted for in each tree’s individual situation.

Where is the location? Different parts of the country vary widely in their cost of living, and so too, the cost of tree services is obviously more expensive in areas with higher land values and higher costs of living. Here in Springfield Missouri we’re blessed with some of the lower costs of living in the USA. A tree that costs $500 to remove here could easily be $1000-$1500 on the east or west coast.

How large or small is the tree? Obviously a small tree will be far less expensive than a large tree.

What is under or near the tree in question? Trees over houses, buildings, pavement, electric lines, expensive landscaping, and many other possible targets will take more time, care, and effort to safely remove. Trees over valuable targets also represent significant liability to the company removing them. More time, more liability, and more difficulty all add up to more cost.

Can needed equipment get to where the tree is? Given 2 identical trees, one located next to the driveway where a bucket truck and chipper can get next to it, and another that is 150′ from the nearest truck access, you should expect to pay more to have the “no access” tree removed.

What techniques will be used in the removal? If it can be cut from the ground (felled whole) and then cleaned up, you’ll pay less. If a bucket truck is needed, or the tree must be climbed, that’ll cost more. If all the branches and trunk must be carefully lowered to the ground, that takes more time and more equipment, and will cost more still. In cases where a crane is needed, that’s another big expense, and will probably double or even triple what that same tree would cost without a crane.

Is the tree live or dead? Does it have any or multiple major faults? Dead trees are more dangerous to perform work on. Trees with major faults, or multiple faults are also more dangerous and difficult, and will cost more because of this. Tree work is a very dangerous profession. Difficult jobs must be approached carefully, planned properly, and executed with precise skill. Taking care of tree problems as early as possible will save you money, allowing problems to linger about is dangerous, and will cost you more.

What type of cleanup do you want? If you only need the tree to be on the ground, costs can be minimal. Chipping or hauling the brush will add cost, but is well worth all the mess being gone immediately. The limbs and trunk can also be cut up and/or hauled off, again adding to the cost. Raking and lawn repair to fix any divots complete the cleanup, without adding much cost, and leaving your landscape clean and ready for mowing or improvements. Having your contractor spell out exactly what cleanup they will perform is key to getting the most value for your money.

Are you leaving yourself open to “Hidden Costs”? Any reputable arborist or tree service should be able to complete your project for the cost you were quoted to begin with. In the event that the parameters of the job change (like large pieces of metal or concrete hidden in the tree, or a major fault is discovered which makes the original plan impossible) your contractor should contact you immediately with a revised estimate before continuing the project.

Lawn, landscape, and underground installations like septic systems, irrigation lines and sprinkler heads are easily damaged by heavy equipment. Only proper planning and protective measures can insure your landscape and underground installations remain safe.

The real hidden costs you need to be aware of are uninsured operators. It’s a too common, maddening scenario….Someone hires a low priced company without doing their homework, and somewhere in the work process an error in judgement or execution causes property damage. The guys who did the damage disappear, leaving the homeowner holding the bill for all the necessary repairs. Protect yourself by verifying coverage through the insurance carrier. Do not accept a printed page handed to you from the contractor, go directly to the source.

So how can you minimize your cost for your tree removal?

1. Compare apples to apples when you’re getting estimates. Ask lots of questions, and be sure you know how each company is going to do the job, and what cleanup they’ll perform. Consider the impact of different plans to your property.

2. Provide easy access to the tree. Moving things out of the way or removing a section of fence could save you significantly by making the job easier.

3. Allow the limbs to be chipped and the chips left onsite. They can be composted or used for mulching, and not having to truck them away will save you money on your tree removal.

4. Have the limbs and trunk cut into firewood sized blocks and left onsite. If you burn wood this is an obvious benefit, but even if you don’t burn wood, it’s not difficult to get rid of free firewood to family and friends, and save money in the tree removal process. Most residential trees contain metal, and are not worth much as sawlogs, but if you wish to attempt to sell them, your tree service should be happy to cut them to the length you want and leave them for you. Less material hauled off means less expense for you.

5. Hire only licensed, insured professionals. When an insured professional causes damage, you’re protected from the costs. When an uninsured person damages your property, you or your homeowners insurance will be responsible for the costs. Attempting to save by hiring a weekend warrior could cost you many times the expense of hiring a professional to begin with.

Those are alot of variables, and not really an answer to the question…..So how much does tree removal cost?

Well, the best answer is someone will have to come out and see the tree and location to give you a price. If you’re in Springfield, or anywhere in southwest Missouri, Tree Solutions will be happy to give you a free estimate. Just give us a call at (417) 860-0436 to set up your appointment today.

Eight Best Things You Can Do For Your Trees.

D. Hudson Tree Talk 0 Comments

Due to the fact that each individual tree is in it’s own unique situation, ranking these helpful tips is difficult at best. Each is important, but may not directly relate to your specific tree at this time, so this list is in no particular order.

1. Ensure proper planting. Improper planting is a death sentence from the time a new tree is placed in the ground. Planting too deep and girdling roots are the two most common factors resulting from improper planting which kill trees before they reach maturity.

2. Prevent Construction Damage. Soil compaction, root system damage from digging and trenching, damage to the root flare and trunk from heavy equipment, and suffocation from grade changes are all common construction damage. Only proper planning and execution can help prevent and mitigate the damage which invariably occurs in the construction process. Hiring an arborist to protect your trees BEFORE construction begins can save you alot of money, and the beautiful trees that are part of the reason you selected that spot for your home or development. The effects of construction damage usually are not apparent for five or more years, but when it becomes obvious it’s often too late.

3. Have young trees professionally pruned. This is a very often overlooked, very important part of quality tree care. Pruning done to young trees, and even saplings, is always less expensive and less damaging to the tree than trimming a mature tree. Many problems which mature trees exhibit (and the cost of correction or removal) can be avoided by proper pruning when the tree is young. Examples of these problems are: Included bark junctions – which cause trees to split, poor structure – which results in weaker trees which fail more easily and more dead wood as the tree ages, decay and rot – which happen when we make large cuts on mature trees, and co-dominant stems which fail more often than single stem trees.

4. Mulch the critical root zone. Mulching with organic mulch is beneficial to the tree in many ways. Moisture conservation for the root zone, temperature moderation, protection from mower and trimmer damage, soil improvement, and reduction of competing plants are all important benefits we can provide for our trees, with minimal effort and expense. Mulching must be done correctly to provide these benefits. Improper mulching can cause a whole new set of problems.

5. Pay attention to your trees. Even if you only spend 3 or 5 minutes per tree every other month, a quick visual inspection of the canopy, limbs, trunk, and root flare can provide clues that a problem exists. Early detection of fungal, bacterial, or insect problems will allow for far greater chances of success in treatment of the problem. Some signals you should be looking for are (in no particular order) tip dieback, smaller than normal or off color leaves, small borer holes and the sawdust they leave behind, trunk or root flare wounds, mushrooms or fungi growing at the base of the tree or on the trunk or limbs, and broken or hanging limbs. Any of these symptoms should prompt a call to a tree care professional as quickly as possible.

6. Fertilize only after soil testing to identify deficiencies. Over fertilization is a significant stressor of trees. Trees and their root systems are far more complex than turf grass, and require the correct ranges of elements in the soil to grow to thier optimum. Too much potassium, phosphorus, and especially nitrogen is as bad as not enough, so a soil test should be performed before fertilization to find out what the soil needs. Excess nitrogen in the soil invites fungal and insect problems. Fertilization of an already stressed or struggling tree could ultimately be the final nail in the coffin.

7. Choose the right tree for the spot. The location of structures, electric lines, sewers, foundations and driveways should all be considered when choosing where to plant. Making the selection of what kind of tree to plant for that spot is also of prime importance. Consider nuts, seeds, and fruit or litter that the tree may drop, and the effort you’ll have to put into ground maintenance. Also consider the growth characteristics of the tree you intend to plant. Will it get too big for a small spot? Or remain too small for the purpose you desire? Will it get enough water in that spot, or too much? Does it need full sun, or prefer partial shade? Many questions should be addressed before planting time in order to maximize enjoyment and minimize expense from your trees.

8. Hire a competent professional. Wether you need tree trimming, tree planting, or plant health care, hiring the wrong person for the job can worsen the situation at your expense or receive no benefit for the incurred costs. Ask questions, and verify the answers through another source. Tree care is basically an unregulated industry. Skill levels vary a great deal from person to person and company to company, and clients who hire contractors without doing their homework are often disappointed in the outcome. Caveat Emptor (buyer beware) is the order of the day, and second chances are hard to come by when it comes to trees.

Tree Solutions is proud to offer quality care to help you maintain your trees, and we welcome your questions and comments on everything tree related. We don’t know everything there is to know by any means, but we strive to learn more every day to become even more efficient in solving your tree problems with quality Tree Solutions.

A Lightning Struck Walnut and a Chance to Listen

D. Hudson Tree Talk 0 Comments

Today I received a call from a gentleman who wanted an estimate to have a tree removed. One of the great things about running a tree service is that you never know who you’re going to meet tomorrow, or the stories and history they’ll take the time to tell you.

When I arrived at Tom’s home in north Springfield, he met me out front with a kind smile and a gracious handshake. We walked into the backyard, and spent several minutes looking over the Black Walnut tree he was wanting to have removed.

We walked around front so I could grab my briefcase and write out his estimate. As we ducked into the garage to avoid the hot sun, I began writing and the conversation turned to fishing, then hunting as I showed off a picture of my (then) 13 year old son with his very impressive whitetail from last season. I’d noticed the VFW hat he was wearing when I first arrived, so the first chance I got, I asked where he’d served.

Luckily for me, I had time to sit and listen for a bit, and I truly love the opportunity to hear stories from old vets about their days of service to our country. Tom told me stories of when he enlisted in 1950 and boot camp, getting shipped to Korea, the bitter cold of the Korean winter, and of the action his unit saw there. He told me about getting shot in the hip and stomach, and getting dragged off that bloody hill a couple hours later. Stories of men he served with, and men he saw die serving America.

Watching a war movie, or reading a book, or an article on the net is different from being there and hearing the re-telling first person from the perspective of the man who lived it. Seeing the memories flicker through his eyes as he talked, hearing the waver in his voice as he remembered good friends lost long ago.

So I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank Tom, and every American man and woman who’s served our country. And encourage everyone who reads this to spend the time next time you’re given the opportunity to listen to some of the memories and wisdom that our elder generations are happy to pass along. Without regard for our personal thoughts on war in general, or the decisions our government makes, our vets deserve as many moments of honor and respect as we can offer them. They’ve already offered their lives to protect us, and our way of life.

Thank you, to all who’ve served.

The tree? Tom’s Walnut had been struck by lightning years back, and still bore the large scar on the trunk from the injury. It had survived, and sealed the wound to a small extent, but it has been slated for removal to make way for new landscaping and a fence, and hopefully a couple new trees which will not interfere with the vegetable garden.

With a little luck, the job will be complete and I’ll have time to sit down and listen to a few more of Tom’s stories.

As Green As We Can Be!

D. Hudson Tree Talk 0 Comments

Tree Solutions strives to be environmentally concious and friendly in every facet of our work.

One of our primary goals is to help our clients keep their trees healthy, safe, and beautiful. Removal is never the first option, it’s the last resort. By preserving as many trees as possible, we help maintain our urban forest, with all the benefits it provides. Many possibilities exhist to help improve the vitality of underperforming trees, and make them beautiful, valued additions to your landscape. Even many split trees can be saved through cabling and bracing, and trees damaged by ice or wind can be restored over time with careful pruning and good root zone care.

When tree removal is necessary, Tree Solutions recycles as much of every tree as possible. Wether it’s being turned into rustic furniture, or chipped into mulch, or composted to make a great garden and flower bed amendment, or cut into firewood to help reduce our fossil fuels consumptions, we always make good use of everything we’re able. None of our debris from tree trimming or removal ever goes into a landfill.

Whenever we remove a tree, we ask if the client is interested in having new trees planted. Many times the removed tree was too large for it’s spot, or a species unsuitable for it’s placement. A new replacement tree selected for it’s growth habits, or strength, or food production, or whatever your needs are can provide excellent benefits for your property.

In dealing with fungal or insect infestations we look first at treatments which do not include insecticides or fungicides. Organic is the goal, whenever possible, to maintain the balance of nature and not pollute our environment.

When insecticides are necessary, we prefer to use systemic insecticides to provide long term protection compared to a spray insecticide. Systemic insecticides only affect insects feeding on the tree, and will not harm a host of beneficial insects the way a foliar spray will.

Got a suggestion that can help us be a little greener? We’d love to hear from you. We strive to make as little negative impact as possible to the environment, and to make our land a little greener every chance we get Anything we can do to get better is a welcome addition to our efforts.

Tree Problems, Root Problems, and Poor Planting Practices

D. Hudson Tree Talk 0 Comments

Many times lately I’ve been called to look at a young tree performing poorly. In every single instance the origin of the problem was related to improper tree planting, or landscaping issues which created problems after planting.

The two most common issues have been trees planted too deep, and trees with girdling roots constricting the trunk.

When a tree is planted too deep as a sapling it is destined to struggle along, never fulfilling it’s potential, and possibly dying at a very premature age. The first major structural roots of the tree should be at surface level. The root flare requires plenty of gas exchange, it must be able to breathe. When it’s planted too deeply, or has soil added after planting, the root flare is being cut off from it’s needed oxygen. As a sort of a double whammy, stressed trees are much more likely to be attacked by insects, putting them under even greater stress.

Girdling roots have several causes, becoming rootbound in plastic nursery pots and planted without correction, being planted with the burlap and metal cage still around the root ball, poor soil conditions which turn roots inward, and others. Girdling roots have killed more than a few young trees, and only great care and effort in planting can prevent potential problems from becoming very real problems just as your tree is growing large enough to enjoy. Some girdling root problems can be corrected with a root flare excavation and careful pruning of the girdling roots, if the problem is detected early enough. In other cases, no correction is available and the tree is doomed.

The shocking part of these problems is that most of these young trees with root system problems were planted by a tree nursery or landscape company. The only two possibilities I can see as possible are either their tree planters are not trained to do the job correctly, or they just do not care. Whatever the explanation, poor planting practices result in premature tree death.

Perhaps if they could see the results of improper planting practices about a decade later they’d put more effort into ensuring the job was done correctly in the first place.

For anyone having a tree or trees planted, make sure you hire a knowledgeable, dedicated professional to handle the project, and avoid the heartbreak of losing a young tree you’ve been nurturing due to lack of knowledge or care in planting.

How to Choose an Arborist or Tree Service

D. Hudson Tree Talk 2 Comments

When your trees need some professional help, and you’ve got to find someone to do the job, who you hire is far too important to base the decision on cost alone. Cost is always a factor, but you’re much better off having no work done than having poor quality work done. Hiring the right person will provide value for your dollar, beautiful trees, and good advice on their future care. Hiring the wrong person could result in permanent damage to your trees, or costly repairs from a job gone wrong.

Here’s a list of do’s and don’ts to help you in the decision making process. They’re your trees, and you’re spending your money on their care, making a good decision is in your hands.

DO’s:

Use a licensed and insured company. One mishap could cost you many times the price of the job if you use an uninsured contractor.

Ask the insurance agent yourself for a certificate of insurance. Many shady operators carry around a fake or cancelled certificate, go to the source for proof.

Ask each prospective contractor specifically what they’re going to do, and how they’re going to do it. Ask them to put the estimate in writing.

Make sure the details of the cleanup are included. Full cleanup should leave nothing but sawdust behind.

Ask for references from past customers, and pictures as well. Someone who’s proud of the work they do will be happy to show and tell.

Trust your gut instinct. Especially when it comes to tree trimming and pruning and tree health care. Beware of anyone who wants to start spraying without a proper diagnosis, or anyone who’s selling fertilizing without a soil test to see what’s needed.

DON’TS:

Never pay in advance, not even a partial payment. Any reputable company will expect you to pay in full after the job is completed, anyone who’s asking you to pay up front is probably trying to steal your money.

Don’t let anyone who suggests topping anywhere near your trees. Topping destroys trees, trimmers who perform topping are hacks, and do not care about the future health of your trees. In some cases crown reduction is warranted, but crown reduction and topping are very different.

Don’t hire someone who uses tree climbing spikes for trimming and pruning jobs. Tree climbing spikes injure the cambium with each step, and can be the source of fungal or bacterial infections. Advanced tree climbing methods can complete the job with no extra injuries to the tree.

Don’t hire based on cost alone. Compare the impact of different methods on your property, and compare the services being offered. Very often the lowest bid does not provide the best value, especially when danger and liability are involved.

Healthy Roots Make Healthy Trees

D. Hudson Tree Solutions News 18 Comments

Today’s urban landscape trees are some of the most valued and viewed trees growing. Unfortunately, many times we ask them to grow in environments more harsh than their forest growing counterparts. In many cases this causes poor vigor, slow growth, weakened disease resistance, and in general, less than optimal overall health.

So what can a concerned homeowner do to improve the vigor, health, and growth of their tree? A good start is to create a healthy growing environment for the root system. A trees roots bring water and nutrients to the tree. A stressed out root system will result in a stressed out tree. Compacted soil, too much or too little water, competing ground plants, and poor soil quality can all contribute to an unhealthy root system.

Soil compaction is often an effect of construction damage to a tree, from driving heavy equipment over the roots, or placing heavy piles of materials on the roots. Other causes include excessive foot traffic and parking vehicles or equipment under the canopy. Compacted soil will not allow the roots to breathe properly, and will impair the uptake of water and nutrients to the tree. To prevent compaction, especially in high traffic areas or construction zones, some sort of physical barrier should be placed around the tree. The more area encircled, the more root zone protected. Optimally, the rootzone should be protected at least to the dripline. (Picture the shaded ground in noontime sun. The shaded area is the critical rootzone, and the outside edge is the dripline.) Once soil compaction has happened, correcting the problem is more difficult than prevention would have been. The only quick fix to decompact soil without root damage is the use of an air spade. This tool allows the soil to be decompacted with a high pressure spray of air.

Planting a tree in a spot which will suit its needs is abolutely necessary in order for the tree to thrive. If it is planted in a spot which is too dry, additional watering may be all that is necessary. It’s much more difficult to dry out a tree planted in too wet an area. Too much or too little water is a problem which is best avoided through forethought and planning, with careful consideration of the characteristics of the planting location, and the needs of the species being planted.

Many landscape trees are surrounded by lawn. This fact creates several different problems for these trees. First, the area around the trunk is usually mowed or weedeaten regularly. This leaves them suseptible to damage to the trunk or surface roots from metal mower decks or trimmer line or blades. These types of wounds can allow bacterial or fungal infection, and cause the tree to use rescources to heal the wound. Next, all of that lush growing grass draws water and nutrients from the soil, competing with the tree for rescources. Keeping that grass mowed adds to the soil compaction issues. The good news is that all of these issues can be solved with one simple solution. Mulch the critical rootzone of your trees. Trees growing in the forest mulch themselves each year when they drop their leaves. This natural mulch keeps competing ground plants out, and helps keep the soil moist, and retain moisture longer. Yard trees need this mulch to optimize their health. Wood chips are very effective, but they should be aged at least a year after they are chipped before being applied as mulch. Whatever mulch you use should be kept back from the trunk of the tree 6“-12”, to prevent any moisture or rot from damaging the base of the trunk. Your mulch ring should be 2 to 4 inches deep, and extend out to the dripline if possible. As the mulch breaks down, it adds nutrients to the soil. Over time poor quality soil can slowly be improved. Too many trees I observe were mulched in the “Volcano” fashion. Thats where a tall narrow cone of mulch is placed all around the trunk of the tree. This method of mulching does more harm than good, and should never be used. It causes above ground root growth, promotes trunk rot, and provides few of the benefits to the root system of a mulching job done right.

From every angle, protecting the soil from compaction and mulching the critical rootzone to eliminate competing plants, keep mower and trimmer damage away from the trunk and surface roots, conserve moisture, and add nutrients to the soil will help your trees to be healthy and beautiful.

Contact Tree Solutions at 860-0436 if you would like fresh wood chips dropped off at your property for free. We’d also love to hear from you for any and all tree care needs.

Dean Hudson,
Tree Solutions owner.

Healing the Ozarks Ice Damaged Landscape

D. Hudson Tree Solutions News 1 Comment

January 12, 2007 brought to southwest Missouri what became a three day assault of freezing rain to the trees and residents of our Ozarks region. The effects of this storm created more damage to our trees and power systems than has ever been seen in this area.

Southwest Missouri has long been proud of our large and beautiful trees. Majestic red and white oaks overseeing our daily lives, towering, hundred foot sycamores, groves of walnut trees, offering a bounty of tasty and valuable nuts in the fall, silver and red maple trees, showing their splendor in brilliant fall color, and many many other species, all promoting the quality of our air, water, and wildlife habitat. We’ve been blessed in the Ozarks with an amazing quantity and quality of natural beauty.

Many homeowners who are now greeted by the daily spectacle of their splintered and broken trees are wondering, “What’s going to happen to them? Are my trees going to die?”. The answers are not easy. Each tree should be accessed individually, with the goal in mind of saving as many trees as possible. Each species tend to fail in different ways, and respond differently to breakage. The health of the tree, before this storm hit, is probably the largest factor in its probability for survival. How it is taken care of after the storm is an important factor also.

Homeowners will be faced with some difficult decisions regarding how much risk they are willing to accept from their trees, and wether its best to have them trimmed, or to cut them down and replant.

Safety should be the first priority. Hangers (broken or partially broken limbs and tops held above ground level) should be removed, as they will eventually fall, causing injury or damage to anything below.

Trees with badly cracked trunks, or large splits on the main stems, and trees which have lost all of their branches are probably better off as firewood. As these heavily damaged trees continue to grow, and decay begins, the level of danger they present will increase. Future wind loading, especially if the tree has regrown a full canopy, could cause catostrophic failure in a compromised trunk which was left standing. Our area will continue to see tree problems related to this storm for decades to come.

Taking the top off a tree is the worst thing we can do, as it promotes fast, weak growth as the tree tries to regrow as much canopy as possible. In this storm, a very large number of our trees were topped by nature.

To help preserve these trees, they should be trimmed. Taking off the broken wood while leaving wounds as small as possible will help the tree to heal itself more quickly. If these heading cuts are made at a node (the spot on a branch or trunk where each previous years growth ended), it will allow the tree to regrow a branch or branches which are attached in the heartwood, instead of many branches attached by a weaker surface junction if the cut is made at any random spot. Having your trees trimmed by someone who knows how to identify the proper place to make the cut will result in trees which heal more quickly, and establish new growth patterns which will be strong and natural in appearance.

Author: D. Hudson