On a recent tree removal job, our initial plan was to have a climber take the tree down. When the climber got there and looked everything over, he called me and said, “Man, this thing is going to take forever. It’s too high, too complicated, and too close to the house.”
So we made the decision to bring in a 35-ton crane.
We lost a little money on this job, but that happens sometimes. I would much rather change the plan and lose some money than try to force the original plan when there is a safer and better way to get the tree down.
We also learned something else on this job that will help us going forward: If a crane or other heavy equipment needs to access your yard, don’t run the irrigation system the night before.
The homeowner had run the irrigation, and the ground was extremely soft. We ended up losing about two hours of crane time while we ran out and got additional boards to protect the yard and give the crane a solid path to back into position.
Once we got everything set up, the good news is that the tree came down quickly and safely.
Unfortunately, the job ran over our estimated hours. That happens in tree work. Sometimes you win on a job and sometimes you lose. Every difficult job also teaches us something, and those lessons help us get better at estimating and planning the next one.
The homeowner actually gave us a great review and recommendation afterward, which I really appreciated. The grass did get messed up a little from the equipment, but sometimes some lawn damage is unavoidable when removing a large tree.
Our crew’s first priority is always getting the tree down safely, not making sure every blade of grass looks exactly the same when we leave. We absolutely try to minimize lawn damage, and we use boards and other methods to protect the property whenever possible. But when we are dealing with a large tree near a house, our priorities have to be safety first: nobody gets hurt, the tree doesn’t hit the house, and expensive property like vehicles, fences, and other structures doesn’t get damaged.
Tree removal is dangerous work. We understand the importance of a healthy, good looking lawn, but when we have to choose between protecting some grass and making the safest decision for the people and property around a large tree, safety is going to win every time.
To learn more about our tree removal services you can visit our main page about tree removal here.
We also have video footage of this jobs crane tree removal. You can view it here on YouTube.
MTM Tree Services LLC is an owner / operator led tree service team in Charlotte NC. Text or call 704-965-3589 for a free quote. Licensed & insured. Certified arborist on staff.
