First off what municipality do you reside in. I deal with representatives within some of the municipalities around the GTA and with a couple within the City of Toronto. You need to be aware of any local private tree bylaw. Toronto has one, as does the City of Mississauga. Also be aware of some misinformation. Municipalities will not take trees down from private property unless that tree or section of tree has fallen and is blocking the road allowance. A tree with a diameter of more than 8" (20 cm) cannot be transplanted or moved. You'd have to take a root ball proportionate to the trunk and canopy.
If you live in the City of Toronto (the former City of Toronto, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, York and the former Borough of East York). Check out the City of Toronto's Forestry website which is:
http://www.toronto.ca/trees/index.htm
Look in the left column under private trees. Spend time reviewing the FAQ section. I quote:
"A permit is not required to remove trees which are dead, terminally diseased or hazardous. However, to confirm that a tree is exempt from the by-law due to its condition, a detailed arborist report must be faxed to Urban Forestry Services at 416-392-0963. You also do not require a permit to prune a tree in accordance with good arboricultural standards. For any tree work, we encourage you to retain the services of a Certified or Registered Consulting Arborist, a Registered Professional Forester or others with similar qualifications. You may find professional tree care companies listed under "Tree Service" in the Toronto yellow pages."
If the tree had no leaves this year, it’s dead.
Once you get the City's permission, taking a large tree down is best left to the experts, even if you aren't nervous about using a chainsaw in a tree. You can lose a finger or arm in a matter of seconds. The chainsaw can "kick back" and dig into your lungs or face. Sorry about being too graphic but this industry has one of the highest mortality/injury rates. Qualified Arborist have years of experience. Call 5 or 6 companies (or even more) and let them know that you are looking for a good price. Be aware that the cost is related to how big and accessible the tree is. Trees are usually measured by caliper (DBH) diameter at breast height -I'm not kidding. If your backyard is expansive and the company can "flop" the tree down, and its not too big a specimen, the costs you get should be reasonable. You've indicated that this tree is close to a building, it will need to be taken down in sections. If you can get an aerial truck into your yard, the removal can be done relatively quickly. This is usually not possible in a backyard situation and trained, qualified climbers (Arborist, tree care specialist) are required. Notice I didn’t say landscapers.
Make sure that the company that does the work is fully insured, in case the tree or a section goes the wrong way and lands on the neighbours (or your roof). Each piece needs to be lowered by rope, or rigging can be used so that the pieces are guided to the front of the property where a truck and chipper await.
Ask for an "A", "B" price and a "C" price. The "A" price is for removal, stumping and brush pick up. The "B" price is for removal and brush pick up and the "C" price is for removal only. If the removal can wait until the winter, you can save bucks. The companies are usually hungrier, there are no leaves (if the tree is deciduous) and the ground is usually frozen. Use the "C" price if you can grab some assistance from a couple of strong husky gorillas that don't mind spending up to a day cutting up and bundling brush.
On yard waste days, local municipalities will take a limited number of "bundles" provided they are no longer than 4' in length and tied. If one of your friends has a pick up truck or trailer, you can haul this stuff to the local transfer station. Just be aware that a crew with a good wood chipper can clean up a day's worth of brush in a half an hour (and think of all the woodchips you'll have for the garden. Depending on the type of tree, you can dry the trunkwood and the bigger limb wood (for a year) and use it in a woodstove/fireplace, or leave the cut pieces on your blvd. It’s surprising how fast they will disappear.
You don’t need to remove the stump. A growing trend is to leave them 8-12' high and invite a local wood carver in or leave them 4' high and put a birdhouse or planter on it.
Torex gave some good info about Asian Long Horned Beetle. Check out the site run by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for contact information and maps of infested areas.
Its: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/pestrava/anogla/asialonge.shtml or call 1-800-442-2342.
Good luck Chloe…..nice website by the way.
PM me if you want additional information or have questions.
After all, I am "Deep within the Forest"
If you live in the City of Toronto (the former City of Toronto, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, York and the former Borough of East York). Check out the City of Toronto's Forestry website which is:
http://www.toronto.ca/trees/index.htm
Look in the left column under private trees. Spend time reviewing the FAQ section. I quote:
"A permit is not required to remove trees which are dead, terminally diseased or hazardous. However, to confirm that a tree is exempt from the by-law due to its condition, a detailed arborist report must be faxed to Urban Forestry Services at 416-392-0963. You also do not require a permit to prune a tree in accordance with good arboricultural standards. For any tree work, we encourage you to retain the services of a Certified or Registered Consulting Arborist, a Registered Professional Forester or others with similar qualifications. You may find professional tree care companies listed under "Tree Service" in the Toronto yellow pages."
If the tree had no leaves this year, it’s dead.
Once you get the City's permission, taking a large tree down is best left to the experts, even if you aren't nervous about using a chainsaw in a tree. You can lose a finger or arm in a matter of seconds. The chainsaw can "kick back" and dig into your lungs or face. Sorry about being too graphic but this industry has one of the highest mortality/injury rates. Qualified Arborist have years of experience. Call 5 or 6 companies (or even more) and let them know that you are looking for a good price. Be aware that the cost is related to how big and accessible the tree is. Trees are usually measured by caliper (DBH) diameter at breast height -I'm not kidding. If your backyard is expansive and the company can "flop" the tree down, and its not too big a specimen, the costs you get should be reasonable. You've indicated that this tree is close to a building, it will need to be taken down in sections. If you can get an aerial truck into your yard, the removal can be done relatively quickly. This is usually not possible in a backyard situation and trained, qualified climbers (Arborist, tree care specialist) are required. Notice I didn’t say landscapers.
Make sure that the company that does the work is fully insured, in case the tree or a section goes the wrong way and lands on the neighbours (or your roof). Each piece needs to be lowered by rope, or rigging can be used so that the pieces are guided to the front of the property where a truck and chipper await.
Ask for an "A", "B" price and a "C" price. The "A" price is for removal, stumping and brush pick up. The "B" price is for removal and brush pick up and the "C" price is for removal only. If the removal can wait until the winter, you can save bucks. The companies are usually hungrier, there are no leaves (if the tree is deciduous) and the ground is usually frozen. Use the "C" price if you can grab some assistance from a couple of strong husky gorillas that don't mind spending up to a day cutting up and bundling brush.
On yard waste days, local municipalities will take a limited number of "bundles" provided they are no longer than 4' in length and tied. If one of your friends has a pick up truck or trailer, you can haul this stuff to the local transfer station. Just be aware that a crew with a good wood chipper can clean up a day's worth of brush in a half an hour (and think of all the woodchips you'll have for the garden. Depending on the type of tree, you can dry the trunkwood and the bigger limb wood (for a year) and use it in a woodstove/fireplace, or leave the cut pieces on your blvd. It’s surprising how fast they will disappear.
You don’t need to remove the stump. A growing trend is to leave them 8-12' high and invite a local wood carver in or leave them 4' high and put a birdhouse or planter on it.
Torex gave some good info about Asian Long Horned Beetle. Check out the site run by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for contact information and maps of infested areas.
Its: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/pestrava/anogla/asialonge.shtml or call 1-800-442-2342.
Good luck Chloe…..nice website by the way.
PM me if you want additional information or have questions.
After all, I am "Deep within the Forest"
