Trees can grow to impressive heights; they come in all shapes and sizes, although, generally the older they are the taller they become. A tall, straight tree is relatively easy to bring down, a wedge can be removed and a higher cut made to ensure it falls in the direction you want it to. The higher cut prevents the tree from twisting as it falls.

However, if you are not a professional it is possible that even this technique can go wrong and the tree will land in the wrong place. It is more risky and involved if the tree which needs to be felled is twisted or made up of several main trunks. It is harder to predict where a tree such as this will land and it could cause serious injury to you, a neighbor or someone’s property. Older trees can also be rotten or a tree may be damaged by strong winds or lightning. Again, this can cause an issue when attempting to fell the tree.

The Options: There are several options when it comes to removing a dangerous tree, it is important to consider which option is right for your current situation:

• Do It Yourself: Many people consider and actually carry out their own tree felling. Unfortunately there are many risks involved with this. You must also consider the time it will take to fell the tree and clear away all the pieces which have been cut off the tree. Even what appears to be a small tree can produce a considerable amount of wood; if you do not need it yourself you will need to either get rid of it properly or advertise it for some to come and collect it.

• Professional Service: There are many professional firms which offer tree services; these usually include landscaping services, plant healthcare and, of course, tree felling. A search on the internet will provide you with the name of local tree service professionals. For instance, Michael Tree Service in Fredericksburg offers the full range of services; one look at their website will show you that they are a professional firm and that they have a good reputation. This is very important and you should always check the reputation of the firm you intend to deal with. The best way to check a firm’s reputation is via the social media sites. However, it should also be possible to ask the firm for references and even speak to previous customers.

• Merchants: A third option is to see if there are any merchants in your area, they may be known as loggers. They will be professional tree fellers but do not want the tree for wood to burn; instead they will make planks and other pieces of wood for furniture and flooring. It is worth calling a local firm if there is one, they may offer to fell the tree for free and then take away the wood to be cut and sold on. This type of service will only apply to certain types of wood.