No matter the current state of the trees on your property, bringing in an arborist will help reduce risks to your home and family. If you’ve recently purchased a property that has been neglected, the trees may be badly overgrown. A careful assessment by a tree professional is the first step in making choices that will lead to healthier trees.
Remove Weight
The first step in cleaning up a tree that needs to be removed is to take weight off the trunk in a balanced way. If you’ve got a large branch hanging over your house, the first step in protecting your property is to trim away problem branches that can become hazardous on the ground.
If you’re trimming your own trees, it’s critical that you always clear your path. Smaller, lighter-weight branches can be cut off, cut up and hauled out of the way before you get closer to the trunk and deeper into the weightier branches.
Before you start any trimming project, make sure you walk the site. In addition to the tree you’re working on, there may be abandoned stumps hidden in the brush or tall grass. Old stumps and standing brush piles can be a haven for dangerous pests and may be hiding sharp or rusty trash. As much as possible, clear away these hazards.
Check for Pests
A badly overgrown tree in need of removal may also be full of hazardous insects. Wasps, hornets and unwanted bees may have made a home inside a tree on your property. It may be necessary to bring in a professional to move or destroy nests and hives.
Depending on when you take control of the property, you may not know if these insects are present or active. Try to monitor the area during the warmest part of the day. If you can see insects buzzing around the main trunk of the tree, there’s a good chance that you need to address these insects before anyone goes to work trimming or removing the tree.
Talk With an Arborist
If the trees on your property are overgrown and aging out, there’s a good chance they were planted at approximately the same time or are of a similar species. As you replant your yard, it’s a good idea to:
- Increase the variety of trees on your property
- Plant heartier or pest-resistant species
- Consider spring flowers, fall color, and fruiting varieties
Fruiting trees are not a good idea unless you plan to harvest. Flowering trees may increase the population of bees in your yard, which may be dangerous if you or a family member has an allergy.
You can reduce the risk of facing a yard full of overgrown trees that all need trimming or removal at the same time by increasing variety. For help with overgrown or overhanging trees in Greenville, NC, call to speak with the tree removal experts at Eastern Tree Pros.
