Some tree jobs are fine to handle on a Saturday. Others are a fast way to get hurt or damage your house. Here is how to tell the difference before you take on a big tree yourself.
Jobs you can usually do yourself
Watering and mulching young trees. Raking and cleaning up leaves and small sticks. Light pruning of small branches you can reach with both feet on the ground. Pulling small weeds and saplings before they take hold.
The theme here is small, low, and reachable. If the job would take you up off the ground or a chainsaw over your head, that is your sign to stop.
Jobs worth a call to a pro
Any branch bigger than about 3 inches, or above shoulder height. Anything near a power line. A tree that is dead, leaning, cracked, or dropping limbs. Removals close to your house, garage, or fence. Stump grinding. Storm cleanup.
These jobs mix heavy weight, height, and things you do not want to damage. A certified arborist has the training, the insurance, and the right equipment to do them safely.
Signs you should call sooner rather than later
Large dead branches, cracks in the trunk, mushrooms at the base, a sudden lean, soil lifting on one side of the tree, or a canopy that is thinning out. These can all point to a tree that is failing.
If you are not sure, that is exactly what a free estimate is for. We will take a look and tell you honestly whether it is something to watch or something to act on.