Why Fallen Tree Cleanup Is More Dangerous Than It Looks

When a tree falls on your property, it may be tempting to break out the old chainsaw and take care of matters yourself rather than waiting for professionals. After all, isn’t the fall itself the most dangerous part of tree removal? In reality, removing a fallen tree poses numerous unique risks that make it best left to professionals. Picking up a few small branches is perfectly fine, but as soon as a job requires power tools, it’s best to leave it to the professionals.

Stored Tension

If any part of a fallen tree is pinned under other debris (or vice versa), it is possible that the tree could be under tension. By clearing debris or cutting a tree into manageable chunks, you could accidentally release that tension, causing the tree to snap up, roll away, or fall farther. This movement can happen quickly and without warning. If you don’t know what to look for, you risk injuring yourself or causing more damage.

Professional arborists recognize the signs of stored tension and employ proven techniques to minimize risk.

Unpredictable Movement

Even if a fallen tree isn’t under tension, it can still move unpredictably. You may misjudge the tree’s weight distribution or the effect of gravity. Additionally, if a tree’s roots are still anchored, releasing the tension on the trunk may cause them to pull the stump back into the ground, potentially injuring or trapping anything in the way.

Heavy Wood

Even if a tree behaves exactly as you expect during removal, wood is heavy. If you overestimate your strength or underestimate a tree’s weight, you could easily injure yourself. Lifting more than you’re safely able to can strain your muscles, risking tears, inflammation, and chronic pain. Rough bark can scrape up your skin. Dropping heavy chunks of wood could break bones in your feet, toes, or legs.

Overall, it’s best to leave any lifting to seasoned professionals with proper equipment.

Call the Professionals for Tree Removal

All of this doesn’t even scratch the surface of the risks you face when removing trees without training. Damaged electrical wires could cause electrocution or fire. Power tool mishaps can cause permanent injury or disability. Attempting to clean up a fallen tree on your own isn’t worth your life.

If you need to have a fallen tree removed, contact the professionals. With decades of experience, Stumpy’s Tree Service is the Metrowest area’s trusted tree-removal specialist. Contact us today to schedule an evaluation.