Many people take pride in caring for their own yards and gardens, but sometimes DIY tree care can go wrong. One horror story is about a man who decided to trim his own trees. He got up on a ladder with a chainsaw and started cutting away. Unfortunately, he cut into the wrong spot and the tree came crashing down, narrowly missing him. Another story is about a woman who decided to fertilize her own trees. She mixed up a batch of fertilizer and poured it around the base of the tree. However, she used too much and the tree’s leaves started burning. She had to call a professional to come and rescue the tree. These stories show that it’s important to be careful when you’re doing your own tree care. Sometimes it’s best to leave it to the professionals.
DIY Tree Care Horror Stories
Ghouls and goblins aren’t the only things you should be afraid of this Halloween. If you’re thinking of trimming or removing a tree over the next few weeks, you should know that an average of 80 people die in the U.S. each year due to tree care accidents, with countless more incurring serious injuries. In this post, we want to focus on some of the most common mistakes homeowners make when maintaining their trees. It’s our hope that you will realize the advantages of hiring an experienced tree service instead!
Power line dangers
Storm-damaged trees and nearby power lines are a recipe for disaster. Yet we often hear stories about homeowners who get too close to a downed line and end up dying from electrocution. As a reminder, you should never touch a power line or any tree touching a power line for that matter.
So what should you do if a heavy storm or powerful gust of wind knocks down a nearby power line or tree? Play it safe and call a city electrical official or your local tree service. These professionals will understand the safety measures that need to be taken before fixing the electrical problem.
Risky heights
Think you’re properly equipped to handle any scope of tree care because you have “the best ladder in the world?” Trust us when we say that a ladder and power tools rarely make for a safe combination. It doesn’t matter if your ladder is several years old or brand-new — if you slip while stretching and straining, you’re likely going to find yourself in a world of hurt.
Watch a professional tree service work and you’ll see they use a bucket lift instead of a ladder. Not only does a bucket lift allow them to access the tallest branches of the tree, but it also ensures their safety from start to finish. So avoid the possibility of a nasty fall and hire a reputable tree care company instead.
Chainsaw injuries
Using a chainsaw to cut down a tree requires the utmost precision. But that doesn’t stop inexperienced operators from taking matters into their own hands. Consider the fact that more than 30,000 people are injured in chainsaw accidents every year. A sizable chunk of them occurs because of incorrectly cutting into a piece of wood, allowing the tip of the bar to be pinched, causing what’s known as ‘kickback.’ Again, make the smart choice here and opt for professional tree removal over a potential disaster.
Falling trees
This might be the most obvious DIY tree care risk on this list. Sure, it makes sense that the angle of your cut will have a lot to do with where the tree will fall. However, without years of expertise, it’s almost impossible to factor in wind, slope, wood-rot, and nearby trees that can cause a tree to fall in a less-than-ideal direction. That’s why we suggest contacting an expert if you aren’t 100% confident in your tree felling ability.
TURN TO OUR TREE SERVICE
As you can see, there’s a lot that can go wrong when an overzealous homeowner decides to take on a tree trimming/removal project. But with the number of tree services in Chicago, how do you know which one is right for the job? This is where our team at Pro Tree Service enters the equation.
In 1989, we set out with the mission to provide unmatched tree care at an affordable price. Fast-forward 30 years and that mission remain the same. Simply come to us with any reasonable, written estimate and we will beat it by 10%. When you work with Pro Tree Service, you never have to worry about hidden fees or gimmicks.
Affordability isn’t the only thing that sets Pro Tree Service apart from the competition. As a fully licensed, insured, and bonded company, we are legally incorporated and carry workers’ compensation, commercial general liability, and all required municipal bonds and licenses.
We would be remiss if we failed to mention our 24-hour emergency response service. Why is this worth mentioning? Well, the reality is there’s never a convenient time for a tree care emergency. You can count on Pro Tree Service for quality work in a timely fashion.
