Tree Removal

A

dead tree

can be a safety hazard, causing complaints by neighbors, and declared a public nuisance by local authorities. Tree removal might be required by an insurance company, or needed to prevent growing roots from damaging a building foundation, sidewalk or sewer line. It is also common to remove trees to permit "reasonable use or economic potential of the property". At One Two Tree Care, we can help assess potential hazards and make recommendations. In some cases,

cabling

or

bracing

or

pruning

can be done instead of removal to abate the risk of damage.

Often a permit is needed for tree removals, and permit requirements are different in each city and county. Many localities classify trees of a certain size and species as '

significant

', '

protected

' or '

heritage'

, and their removal requires a permit. In San Francisco city, a permit is required even for the removal of a dead tree of any species. Application for a permit can be an extensive, expensive and time-consuming task. Sometimes an

arborist report

is required; and in some cases a permit is approved only if the homeowner plants

replacement trees

from an approved list of species, or pays the city to plant replacement trees on public property.

At One Two Tree Care, we have extensive experience with the permit process in localities throughout the Bay Area. We can tell you if a permit is needed, and help you navigate the process. We offer to obtain the necessary permits for you as part of the job. If a replacement tree is required, we can help you choose the species, then plant it on your property and file the necessary paperwork.

The fastest way to remove a tree is to cut it at the base, allowing the entire tree to fall to the ground where it can be cut up into smaller pieces and hauled away. However, in crowded urban areas it is far more common to climb the tree and remove it in pieces. The branches are removed first. Then the climber cuts the trunk into sections, allowing each section to fall to the ground, or lowering it by rope if the location requires it. Cranes are needed in some instances, if the tree is unsafe to climb or located in a place where sections cannot be easily and safely lowered. Once on the ground, branches and sections of the trunk are fed into a

wood chipper

that produces

mulch

, which can be used in a garden or recycled in a

green waste

facility. At One Two Tree Care, we do this work efficiently and safely, and take care to clean up the site after the work is done.

One Two Tree Care also offers to do

stump removal

, which is sometimes desirable for landscaping reasons. We use a

stump grinder

that can remove the trunk and nearby above-ground roots, down to a depth of as much as one foot. The wood chips produced by the grinder can be used for gardening, or hauled away for recycling.