Recommendations for getting these pines cut down in our back yard?

[ATpro]

Hardwoods normally have a shallow root ball but it is spread out which makes it a little more stable in moderate winds, they become a problem in high winds. The good news for hardwoods they are long lived and you can control the growth by pruning which will help reduce wind load and keep the tree safe. Pines are a different mater they are short lived but they have a tap root which makes them more stable in higher winds but this advantage goes away as the tree gains height. The problem with pines around a house is they are short lived and are more susceptible to parasites and insect damage, that can be a problem more so than the wind.

 

[Seachaser]

Would ever leave a pine, that tall, around where it could hit a house. Rain a lot and the ground get soft and it doesn't take high winds much to make them uproot.

Best advice I ever got was never plant a tree within 100’ feet of your house. Especially pines. Did I listen? No! We had a skidder take down about 20 in our yard. Luckily we live rural. They were 40+ years old.

 

[EchoShindaiwaMakitaDolmar]

Get at least four estimates from "established, known companies who are insured & bonded". Specifically mention the power lines & underground pipes when you call AND again while they're there for the estimate, and ask them how they'll deal with that- mats, plywood, or planks for the truck/crane/lift.

Maybe create a new thread asking about tree service in your area, and put your general location in the title.

 

[GeeVee]

I've been looking info getting some quotes in the near future. Of course I presume that most or all tree companies have an arborist(?). Is it better to get a full-on large tree company or smaller tree company? Or would it be the more equipment the merrier, as I suspect? I know for sure that I want insured/bonded and such, of course. Definitely not Jim Bob from down the block with his chipper who can "get 'er done" and drop a tree on my neighbor's house. I have had a few non-arborist people tell me that and yeah...that's not happening.




Any idea how most trucks are from ground level to the top of the boom itself when it is lowered? My biggest concern is them snagging it on a power line trying to get through the side if I take the fence down. That's probably at most 12-14 feet high. I'm even more concerned about a loaded truck driving back out and doing something like cracking the sewer line out by the road in line with the power lines that they would need to weave in between.

Jusat to get your attention OP- I quoted this post. but I cut this one out of another.

I'm hoping that none of their trucks will crack the old sewer line under there...which is unfortunately running right down the center approximately where that center fence post is on the right and goes back for probably 50-75 feet and turns to the left. I want to say that part may be metal pipe, but I know for sure that the old pipe behind the house is old clay pipe because I had to dig some of that up before.

As well, you made mention of a sump pump? Where does the sump pump go to Drain? To the Sewer? I think you need to wrap your head around this. Tree Work, REPLACE the VCP and metal sewer service, upgrade the sump pump connection to the drain (sewer), and regrade and re-sod the yard. Do all of it at once with smart thinking, and be trouble free for the rest of your life, aside from a new roof later on.... Heck, just for grins, how old is your electrical service to your house, (your breaker panel and your weatherhead?) You COULD, have an electrician on stand by and have the power drop lowered/abandoned, and installed underground,if your weatherhead is 35 or more years old, why not? Sure, more money, but you want piece of mind use one as a reosn to justify the other. You Dont need VCP sewer in your yard,bad enough you prolly got cast iron sewer under the house. Di you at one time have a septic system, and later were forced to connect to city sewer?, I hope they properly filled your tank, or you'll lose a crane truck outrigger into it.

 

[ericm979]

Of course I presume that most or all tree companies have an arborist(?).

In my area a lot of the tree services call the guys who climb trees to remove them "arborists". Which is not the same as the tree health expert type of arborist who is often certified.

All the tree services here have climber type arborists. Very few use bucket trucks. They're not that useful in our area since few trees can be driven up to. The terrain is too steep and the soil too loose.

Get some recommendations for tree services and have them out to bid the job. You'll find out what you need from that.

 

[pdqdl]

Get at least four estimates from "established, known companies who are insured & bonded". Specifically mention the power lines & underground pipes when you call AND again while they're there for the estimate, and ask them how they'll deal with that- mats, plywood, or planks for the truck/crane/lift.

Maybe create a new thread asking about tree service in your area, and put your general location in the title.

Be sure to ask them for a copy of that bond, too. I'd like to see a copy of that as well.

 

[pdqdl]

In my area a lot of the tree services call the guys who climb trees to remove them "arborists". Which is not the same as the tree health expert type of arborist who is often certified.

The folks that certify arborists have several different categories of certification. The ideal certification for this particular job would be this one: ISA-Certified-Arborist-Utility-Specialist

 

[StihlPotlicker]

I would love this. Seems to be the best route and probably most cost efficient without them breaking their backs trying to move a bunch of stuff. Any idea how tall those crane trucks are in general? I have been trying to figure out how they can safely get to the right side of the house to drive one back. I have considered that they could drive in and across the front yard from our driveway while watching the lines...or they could pop over the curb out by the street and try to drive more straight down in between the lines. The neighbor's lines run down the side of their driveway on the side of our yard and ours also run from the same pole over to the corner of our house. I'm hoping there's enough room for them to get such a crane truck back there. Trying to be as accommodating as possible to avoid the infamous 'PITA' charge that I have heard about regarding tree services/arborists when there is a tough job with a bad setup. I'm hoping that none of their trucks will crack the old sewer line under there...which is unfortunately running right down the center approximately where that center fence post is on the right and goes back for probably 50-75 feet and turns to the left. I want to say that part may be metal pipe, but I know for sure that the old pipe behind the house is old clay pipe because I had to dig some of that up before.

I suspect that it will be an all day job. Thought about having a cooler with a variety of sodas/Gatorade or something that they can pick what they want from. Maybe even a bit of snacks just because I know that people don't care about that stuff very much and I want to make that irritating job as comfortable as possible for them. The only thing is we have a dog that would have to stay in the house, so they wouldn't be able to come in for restroom access and such (plus two elderly people inside don't need contact with anyone who could potentially give them Covid, etc).

remember you get what you pay for unfortunately you can't pay cheap I'll do it for beer and get great results lol.