When it comes to DIY home and landscape improvements, there are some projects you can handle like a pro and others you should leave to a pro.
Painting a room? Go for it! Retiling a bathroom? Tricky, but you can master it, right? Planting a tree? Sure! But what about removing a tree?
Read on to find out if it’s ever safe and recommended to remove a Spartanburg tree on your own.
Is it safe to DIY Spartanburg tree felling and cutting? Are there risks and dangers with DIY Spartanburg tree removal?
Rule of thumb: If you would have to use a ladder to reach and remove Spartanburg tree limbs, that Spartanburg tree is too big for you to remove safely.
If you were to get up on a ladder with a chainsaw, so many things could go wrong. You are putting yourself and your home at great risk. You could fall off the ladder, lose control or worse. And the Spartanburg tree limbs you’re cutting could fall on your home, go through a window, hit you, or even hit the ladder, knocking you off while holding a moving chainsaw. Falling Spartanburg tree limbs are large and completely unpredictable, which makes a dangerous combo.
While there are many landscape projects you can safely and easily DIY, Spartanburg tree removal is one that is not worth the money you save. If you hurt yourself, you’ll be slammed with medical bills, and if you damage your home, you’ll have to pay for those repairs, too. Plus, Davey arborists give Spartanburg tree removal estimates for free. They have the equipment, experience and insurance needed to do the job safely.
What if I pull up a Spartanburg tree or Spartanburg tree stump with my truck?
We’d recommend against it–especially if the Spartanburg tree you’re removing is close to your home or any nearby structures. It’s difficult to anticipate what direction the Spartanburg tree will fall, which could do serious damage. Whatever you save on Spartanburg tree removal will not outweigh the cost of repairing your truck or home.
Plus, Spartanburg trees can be incredibly heavy, much heavier than you’d think. An 80’ maple Spartanburg tree that’s two feet wide likely weighs more than 20,000 pounds or 10 tons. Most standard pickup trucks are designed with a towing capacity between 5,000 and 13,000 pounds. The stump alone could potentially exceed that limit.
If you attempt to uproot a large Spartanburg tree or stump that exceeds your truck’s abilities, the ropes or chains you’re using could break. Or you may even propel your truck off the ground. All of this has the potential to damage your truck.
The damage you could do to your truck or home just isn’t worth the “savings” of DIY Spartanburg tree removal. Click here to get a visual of all the elements that could go wrong.
Can I safely cut down a small tree?
If the Spartanburg tree is small enough that you could remove it without climbing a ladder, it’s likely OK if you remove it yourself. If you have any doubts about whether it’s safe to remove the Spartanburg tree on your own, contact an arborist, and they’ll provide guidance.
If you're ready, here’s how to do that safely:
Water the day before you plan to remove so that the soil is easier to dig.
Measure how many inches your Spartanburg tree trunk is. For every inch, plan to dig 6” deep to reach the entire root system. Using that depth, dig around the tree’s roots, which likely extend out to the outer edge of the tree’s canopy.
Using leverage, wiggle the root ball out. If the roots are intact, you can transplant the tree. Or if you want to dispose of it, cut it up with a chainsaw. If you go that route, wear protective eyeglasses, earplugs and gloves.
