Tree Trimming Dangers: Why You Need A Professional Touch

Three’s a tendency with tree-owners to underestimate their own trees. These are massive, rock-solid pieces of vegetation that loom over ten-foot-tall and are literally rooted into the ground. But something about learning about them as children means that we don’t think they’re “that big of a deal”. 

When it comes to sawing, trimming, or pulling a tree down, there are many who think, “I could do that. No problem.” Which is, we don’t need to tell you, usually a pretty bad idea. 

Of course, the whole process sounds simple. Need to saw off a few branches? Bring in the saw and get to work. Need to saw down the whole tree? If you’ve got a chainsaw and a truck, you’ve got no problems. 

But it’s actually much more complicated than many of us expect. There are the technical aspects. The knowing how and where to saw so you don’t damage the tree or your home, car, or garden. And, more importantly, there’s the small matter of keeping yourself and your family safe. An unsecured tree can injure or even kill an unsuspecting homeowner or visitor. A single falling limb can do massive damage with very little warning. 

Let’s take a closer look at some common tree trimming dangers and why doing your own trimming work isn’t recommended. 

Common Causes of Accidents

Ladder accidents: Easily the number one cause of injuries during yard work is improper use of an extension ladder. While you might not expect it, if you find yourself needing a ladder for your tree work, it might be better to think up a new approach that doesn’t need it.

There are a few reasons for this. Many ladders technically aren’t long enough, for starters. Your ladder should extend at least three feet beyond the branch. Anything less, and the branch could snap back and physically move the ladder once you’ve cut off the end. There are numerous other examples of this, so always make sure to prop your ladder against something stable, even if the unstable options are closer to where you’ll be working.

The wrong tools: Not all of us are tree experts, so we’ll often find ourselves without the right tools for the job. Maybe we’ve got a chainsaw that isn’t technically big enough to go through a large trunk, but we read online that we could force it through at the right angle. Whatever the case may be, faulty or inappropriate tree care equipment can break, malfunction, and do a poor job, causing painful and dangerous accidents. 

Never underestimate how easy it is to lose control of subpar tools. It could mean the difference between a great-looking lawn and a trip to the hospital.

Lack of training: Once again, it can be easy to assume that a basic understanding of physics is enough to do a good job at trimming or removing a tree.

Without the proper care, however, an ax or chainsaw can free parts of the tree from their moorings in ways you’d never expect. Bark can hold harder than you thought it would and swing a falling branch right through your window. Removing branches in large sections, meanwhile, can cause the branch section to fall in strange ways, damaging the tree and harming anyone unlucky enough to be standing too close.

Tree Trimming Dangers: In Closing

A professional tree trimming or removal job is no small feat. It takes professional workmanship and a certain amount of training if you’re going to do it predictably. Maybe you have all the know-how you need.

But, if you are even slightly unsure of what might happen during the project, you owe it to yourself contact SB Tree Service to find out more about our tree trimming and removal work. Safety is at the heart of everything we do, and our workmanship and attention to tree trimming dangers are second to none. Give us a call at 386-320-3056 or visit us online, today, to find out more!