Tree Removal in Portland, OR
Our arborists take the decision to remove a tree seriously, especially if the tree itself is healthy. Urban Forest Pro’s arborists don’t necessarily like to cut down healthy trees — but the truth of the matter is that trees are a renewable resource. Sometimes tree removal is the best option; trees can be replanted, after all, allowing them to grow and prosper for many years.
When is the best time to remove a tree? The best time to remove a tree is before it has a chance to cause damage to property or people. Beyond that, the longer answer is that tree removal is probably best done during the tree’s dormant season — typically January, February, and March.
For deciduous trees, the dormant season is when their leaves have fallen, making them easier to clear and remove. Plus, at that point, the increased likelihood of winter-hardened ground beneath the tree makes it less likely that tree removal will negatively impact on your lawn.
Spring and summer tree removal often means a longer wait time since those are the busiest seasons for tree service companies. It’s also likely to cost more in spring and summer because, among other things, the springtime addition of new leaf cover makes removal more difficult and time-consuming.
Contact Urban Forest Pro for a free estimate from one of our exceptional, certified arborists. We can remove trees of all sizes and in just about every situation.
4 Things To Consider When Removing A Tree
1. What are your goals for both the tree and your yard? It can be helpful to prioritize your goals. For example, if you have a tree next to your home that causes safety concerns but you really love how it looks and the shade it provides, you can rank your priorities like this:
-
- Safety
- Shade
- Appearance
You can even get more specific regarding what exactly you like about the tree’s appearance or what your top safety concerns are. If yours is a rental property, you might have completely different goals, such as reducing maintenance and liability worries.
If you simply have a tree that you don’t like, it’s also important to think about why you dislike the tree. For example, does it drop too much sap in the summertime, making your deck a sticky, unusable mess? Even in a case like that, there are alternatives. For example, rather than spending several thousand dollars removing the tree, property owners might consider a several-hundred-dollar treatment to prevent aphids, which are often the actual culprits in sap production. (Aphids feed on sap and secrete “bug poo, aka honeydew.”)
2. What are your options? Be super clear with your arborist about your goals so that they can help you achieve them and/or suggest other options. For example, it may be better to prune a tree rather than remove it. Of course, it’s possible that the opposite is the best course of action: a property owner may want to prune a tree that should actually be removed. If the customer’s goal is to eliminate branches overhanging the house, reduce the height of the tree, or stop a tree from uplifting concrete, there are many cases where the only true answer to those problems is tree removal.
We don’t necessarily like to cut down healthy trees, but trees are renewable; they can be replanted. In many cases, it’s better to remove a tree and start over with the right tree in the right location. Plus, delaying the inevitable can increase the cost of tree removal.
In any case, you can ask questions and get answers by contacting an Urban Forest Pro certified arborist for options!
3. What does the law say? The ultimate decision to remove a tree may not be up to you — even if it’s on your property. In many cases, the final word is provided by the city via a tree removal permit process.
For example, our hometown of Portland, Oregon, has an urban tree canopy that is among the country’s most admired. American Forests named Portland one of the Top 10 cities for urban trees, and the National Arbor Day Foundation has honored Portland as a “Tree City USA” 41 times. Cities are active and often aggressive in monitoring the tree canopy, and unpermitted tree removals can incur fines in the thousands of dollars.
4. What happens to the removed tree? Urban Forest Pro (UFP) works hard to provide tree services in Portland, Oregon, that work best for our clients, the community, and the environment. Every part of the removed tree is recycled and/or reused. The wood is either milled into lumber or used as firewood, and wood chips can be used as mulch to help fight invasive plants and to rebuild native habitats. UFP donates most of this material to nonprofits and various municipalities.
When It’s Time To Remove A Tree
Whether you’re a business owner with a shady lot or a homeowner who’s on the fence when it comes to one of your trees, it’s important to understand that tree removal is sometimes the absolute best — and often only — course of action.
Here are four reasons why tree removal is often the solution:
- The tree is diseased. Trees can experience a host of different diseases — some more serious than others. If a disease spreads and begins to kill the tree, it might be easier and more affordable to simply remove the tree instead of trying to save it. The earlier a disease is caught and treated, the easier it is to handle. However, if your tree’s disease has begun to overtake a large portion of it, it might be time to bid it adieu.
- It’s impossible to take proper care of the tree. Different types of trees have different pruning demands, and sometimes people don’t know what they’re getting into. Not everyone has the time, skills, money, or patience to care for an especially demanding tree. If you know you don’t have the time and don’t want to contract a landscaper on a regular basis, your life will be a lot easier if you remove the tree and perhaps replace it with a less demanding variety.
- It’s grown too close for comfort. Whether a tree was planted too close to a house or if it’s an older tree that’s grown beyond what the planters ever imagined, a tree too close to a building can spell trouble. In a severe storm, if it’s hit by lightning or toppled by strong winds, a tree can cause damage to property and people. Thus, sometimes removing a tree that’s nestled next to a building makes things safer for everybody.
- The tree has become a huge distraction. Maybe a tree has grown out of control and is invading electrical wires, blocking key road signs, or dropping fruit directly onto a busy street. Trees can turn into nuisances, especially if they’re overgrown or if the neighborhood has turned from rural to suburban over the years. Someone needs to take care of these trees, and if they’ve become neglected, they can present hazards. After all, it’s important that stop signs remain visible and that cars stopped there aren’t damaged by falling walnuts.
If you’re ready for a tree removal near Portland — or if you need help making a decision — please contact the expert and certified arborists at Urban Forest Pro. They can help you make the best choice for you and your trees.
Our expert arborists are all ISA-certified — every single one of them! They’ll help you determine the best course of action for your specific needs, whether that’s trimming, pruning, removal or any of our many full-service tree care and tree removal services.
