Tree Removal in Washington, NJ

What does tree removal involve?

Tree removal means cutting a tree down from the top in pieces a crew can control. A climber or lift works down the tree, and heavy sections get lowered on ropes whenever there's a roof, fence, or garden below. The trunk comes down last. Brush goes through a chipper, and the wood is hauled off or cut to firewood length. The stump stays at ground level unless you want the stump left behind ground out as well.

When does a tree need to be removed?

A tree should come down when it's dead, when more than half its canopy has died back, or when the trunk has a deep crack or rot at the base. Removal also makes sense for a healthy tree in the wrong spot, like a silver maple whose roots are lifting a walkway or getting into a sewer line. Dead ash trees should come down soon, since the wood turns brittle within a year or two and becomes unsafe to climb.

Why do trees around Washington become hazards?

The heavy clay soil common in the valley stays wet after long rains, and saturated roots hold poorly in strong wind. Ice and wet snow split the tight forks on maples and Callery pears. Emerald ash borer has killed ash trees all over New Jersey. Root damage from driveways and utility trenches kills trees slowly, and a tree left in that condition can fail without much warning.

What affects the cost of removing a tree?

Height, trunk width, and the weight of the wood matter most. Access and risk come next. A tree standing in an open yard that can be dropped in one piece is a much faster job than one leaning over a garage between two houses. Dead trees take extra care because the wood breaks unpredictably. Stump grinding and wood hauling add to the price, and you can skip either one.

Should I remove the tree or try to save it?

If the trunk and roots are sound and the trouble is limited to a few branches, pruning or cabling can keep a tree standing for years. If rot has reached the trunk or root flare, or an ash is already losing its crown, saving it rarely works. When a tree still has a real chance, we'll tell you whether treatment can still save it before we quote a removal.

Tree removal questions

Will removing a tree damage my lawn?

Tree removal causes very little lawn damage when it's done carefully. We lower wood on ropes instead of dropping it, and we lay mats under any machine that drives on grass. You may see some flattened spots or light marks where wood was piled, and those grow back in a few weeks.

Can you remove a tree near power lines?

We can work around the service wire that runs from the pole to your house. Trees touching the main lines on the street are different. JCP&L has to de-energize or clear those lines first, and we'll help you contact them so the removal can go ahead.

What happens to the wood after a tree comes down?

You choose. We can haul all of it away, cut the trunk into firewood lengths and stack it, or leave the wood chips for garden beds. Many homeowners keep some firewood and have us take the rest.