We all enjoy the beauty of a street that is densely populated with trees. Not only does it add to the aesthetic quality of the area, but also has several health benefits as well, including that the production of fresh air. While the beauty and functionality of trees are truly extraordinary, they can sometimes act as an intrusion in our lives. For instance, some trees grow to on unimaginable sizes, causing not only visibility problems outside of structures but also proving to be a pain to maintain. One of the most common issues with trees that grow well beyond their initial size has to do with roots. As a tree expands outwards, its roots follow the same path.

Now some of us may already know, nothing can stand in the way of tree roots. This obviously raises some concerns when looking at trees that line the sidewalk in residential areas. Although these trees do enhance the overall beauty of the area, the roots often lift the concrete slabs causing a safety hazard. In some areas, this problem has become so profound that each individual concrete slab is at least a few inches higher or lower than the one preceding it. The area can often be mistaken for one that was recently ravaged by an earthquake. When you think about the number of kids that can circulate a residential sidewalk, and even older adults whose vision might not be as well as they would like it, you obviously get a little concerned.

The question is, whose financial responsibility is it to try and tame the trees so that their roots stop protruding in such a way that it interferes with the alignment of the sidewalk? Well, this answer can vary, but there is little question that the only sensible way to go about this is to cut down the trees. Once the growth stops the roots can no longer cause further damage to the sidewalk. As we’ve discussed in the past, tree removal costs can depend on a variety of factors, but regardless it can be anywhere from moderately expensive to a very expensive. When we discuss the removal of tree roots, you know it’s going to a err on the expensive side. Fortunately, your city might be responsible for covering the costs, depending on where exactly the tree is located. You will have to talk to the appropriate officials to be sure. Otherwise, it might be in the responsibility of the homeowner to take care of the problem. This might seem unfair, but when you consider the injuries outgrown roots may cause, the investment might be well worth it.

It might be worth discussing the issue with your neighbors to see if you can pool resources together. It’s unlikely that at least several of your neighbors won’t be willing to lend some financial support. Considering the nature of the project, some tree removal contractors might even be more lenient when quoting you for the project. But remember, even with little discounts the costs can add up. The actual tree has to be cut down, the roots have to be removed, and finally, these materials needed to be disposed of. This often involves the use of a chipper, which costs money to run. Before the start any sort of work, you need to check with your city if you need a permit to perform the work. The process of obtaining a permit for tree removal can take some time, so the quicker you take action, the more likely the problem will be solved in an efficient manner.

Many people have invested tremendous amounts of work into making their backyard landscaping look spectacular. They may have planted trees, flowers and laid down the grass to create an outdoor space compared to those you see in shopping catalogs. Others, however, don’t have much time to dedicate towards upkeep beyond everyday watering. Their trees may be in dire need of pruning and their lawn may be in a state of disarray due to a large number of pesky weeds. Although trees are at a greater risk of dying when not cared for properly, every homeowner (yard-fanatic or not) eventually has one that succumbs to decrepitude whether from disease or similar. Regardless, most people don’t see any immediate need to have the tree extracted. It may still have some leaves on its branches and look fairly healthy to the untrained eye. Most experts, however, will tell you that this is not a wise choice.

The moment you learn that your tree is ready to call it quits, you should have it slated for removal. Dead trees can attract every homeowner’s worst nightmare – termites. Termites don’t usually indulge in healthy trees, but once they begin to rot these pests might establish colonies around them to consume every last bit of rotted wood. Termites are fairly small, so while you might not be able to visually identify them, you will be able to see mound-like formations around your tree where they may be living. The danger with termites is that they may eventually migrate into your home, where they can eat away at wooden beams, siding, and any other sources of wood.

Fungal growths are a second problem that dying trees can also succumb to. Much like in the case of termites, fungus manifests after a tree has fallen ill not before. Nevertheless, fungal growth can be an eyesore and even toxic to human health. If you have a play area in your backyard for your children, you really don’t want to have any of this stuff around them as they may be tempted to ingest it or otherwise tamper with it. Before you let any of these problems plague your yard, contact a tree removal company to have any dead trees removed immediately. The cost of tree removal generally ranges from a few hundred up to a thousand and aside from the size of the tree can be affected by its location (in respect to nearby hazards) and the degree to which the homeowner wants it removed.

Instead of incurring the extra costs to have the stump and roots removed by an expert, many people actually successfully go at these projects alone. If you experienced any degree of termite infestation after the death of a tree, you may stand to benefit by calling in an exterminator to check that every last trace of the pest has disappeared. You really don’t want to run the risk if these termites grabbing hold of your home. Dead trees may not be suitable for use as firewood, so have the tree removal company shred the wood in a chipper and then dispose of it.

With the weather very erratic in many parts of the country, it’s not uncommon to hear that a tree has toppled over on someone’s property. Sometimes, the tree avoids valuable property and simply falls into the street. Other times, it lands on a brand new car or on some other valuable item to the misfortune of the owner. When a tree has collapsed, it needs to be disposed of promptly not only for aesthetic reasons but also for the safety issues involved.

Now, some homeowners seem to think that this process is relatively simple. Simply cut the tree down and dispose of the remnants. Unfortunately, it is not as simple as it initially appears. There are other obstacles that can get into your way, including the critters and other creatures that may have accumulated in the tree during its lifespan, as well as what the tree has leftover in the ground, such as its roots.

What you initially estimated could take a day, now turns into a week-long project. The first thing to do in a situation that involves a fallen tree is to contact your homeowner’s insurance company. Hopefully, the event that caused the tree to topple may be covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy. With the costs of tree removal being at a minimum a few hundred bucks, you stand to gain by filing a claim. Now comes the task of finding a contractor to carry out the job. In some cases, your insurance company will send somebody out to complete the job, but otherwise, you’ll have to do that hunting yourself.

In cases where the tree has fallen in such a way that it is now situated in an awkward position, there will be concern about liability. Some removal companies might not take the job if they fear one of their workers may be injured, or possibly someone else in the removal process. This means that you should aim to find at least several companies that you can get a quote from. And in these types of cases, don’t expect the work to be cheap. Not only will the prices go up because of the unfavorable position of the tree, but also because special equipment may be required, such as a crane, to actually dislodge tree from its current position.

You also have to consider what you want to do with what remains of the tree in the ground. In typical cases, you get quoted a price for simply cutting the tree down to a stump. Now, this isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing solution, as a stump sitting in the middle of your yard seems a bit out of place. If your intent on getting rid of this stump, ask potential removal contractors about what they would charge to remove the stump as well as the roots of the tree. You might as well have the entire process performed all at once to cut down on the costs.

Although you should shop around, make a final decision based on much more than price. Conduct adequate research on each company you are considering, try to uncover what sort of impression they’ve made all pass clients, and based on their assessment of your project, try to determine where they fall in terms of competency. Price should be one of the more insignificant factors to consider, and should only be explored when the decision falls between two or three contractors that otherwise look very solid and trustworthy.