10 Things Nobody Told You About Tree Felling

From the ground, removing a tree can look fairly straightforward.

Someone arrives with a chainsaw. The tree comes down. The timber gets taken away.

Job done.

Except professional tree felling is rarely quite that simple.

At Clyne Trees & Gardens in Kirkcaldy, we provide tree services throughout Fife, and one of the most important parts of tree removal takes place before anybody starts cutting.

Where is the tree? How large is it? What's underneath it? What's beside it? Can machinery reach it? Is the tree protected? Are there nesting birds? And once the tree has gone, what happens to the stump and several tonnes of branches and timber?

If you're considering having a tree removed from your garden, here are 10 things nobody may have told you about tree felling.

1. Tree Felling Doesn't Always Mean Dropping the Whole Tree

Mention tree felling and it's easy to imagine someone cutting through the trunk at ground level and shouting "timber".

That might be possible in a large open space.

It's a very different proposition in a typical residential garden in Kirkcaldy or elsewhere in Fife.

A tree could be surrounded by:

• Houses
• Garages
• Conservatories
• Garden sheds
• Greenhouses
• Fences and walls
• Neighbouring gardens
• Roads and pavements
• Telephone or electricity cables

There may simply be nowhere for the complete tree to fall safely.

So how can the tree be removed?

Depending on its size and location, a tree may need to be dismantled progressively.

Branches can be removed in controlled sections before the main stem is taken down piece by piece.

Where necessary, ropes and specialist equipment can be used to control sections as they're removed rather than simply allowing them to fall.

What looks like "tree felling" from the ground can therefore be a carefully planned dismantling operation.

2. You Can't Assume You're Allowed to Fell a Tree

It's your garden and it's your tree.

Surely that means you can remove it?

Not always.

Some trees are protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO). There can also be additional restrictions if your property is within a conservation area.

That means checking the status of the tree can be an important part of planning the work.

The important lesson

Don't arrange for a tree to be felled simply because it's growing on your property.

Where there is any doubt about its protected status or whether permission is required, this should be established before work begins.

Taking a few minutes to investigate before reaching for a chainsaw can prevent a much bigger problem afterwards.

3. The Condition of the Tree Can Completely Change the Job

You might imagine that a dead tree is easier to remove because it has already stopped growing.

The opposite can be true.

Dead, diseased or decaying trees can present additional challenges because their structural strength may have deteriorated.

Branches that appear solid from the ground might be brittle.

The trunk may contain decay.

The root system may have deteriorated.

A tree damaged during one of Fife's winter storms can also contain partially broken or suspended branches that aren't immediately obvious.

Why assessment matters

Before deciding how a tree should come down, its condition needs to be considered.

A healthy tree, a storm-damaged tree and a badly decayed tree of exactly the same size may require three very different approaches.

4. Access Can Matter Almost as Much as the Size of the Tree

Here's something homeowners don't always think about.

How do we actually get to the tree?

A large tree in an open front garden with good vehicle access is one situation.

The same tree at the bottom of a terraced garden, accessed through a narrow gate and down a flight of steps, is another altogether.

Professional tree work isn't only about getting people to the tree. Equipment may need to reach the work area and, once dismantled, everything that has been cut down has to come back out again.

That can include a surprisingly large amount of material.

Before tree felling begins, think about:

Is there side access?

How wide are the gates?

Are there steps?

Can machinery reach the garden?

Does everything have to pass through the house or garage?

Can branches and timber be safely removed from the property?

Good access can make a significant difference to how a tree-felling job is planned.

5. There Is Much More Tree on the Ground Than You Expect

This surprises people.

Look up at a mature tree and its canopy doesn't necessarily appear enormous.

Put all those branches on the ground and suddenly half the garden can disappear beneath them.

A mature tree can produce a considerable quantity of branches, foliage and timber.

That's why removing the tree is only one part of the job.

The material then needs to be processed and dealt with.

Branches may be chipped. Larger timber needs to be cut into manageable sections. The working area then needs to be cleared.

Ask what happens afterwards

When obtaining a quotation for tree felling in Fife, establish what is actually included.

Will branches be removed?

What happens to the timber?

Will wood chippings remain?

Is the site cleared afterwards?

Can you retain some logs if you want them?

The tree coming down isn't necessarily the end of the job.

6. Tree Felling and Stump Removal Are Two Different Things

This is probably one of the most common misunderstandings.

Having a tree felled doesn't automatically mean that every trace of it disappears.

Normally, the trunk is cut down as close to ground level as is reasonably practical, leaving the stump and root system behind.

If you want that stump removed, additional work may be required.

Why might you want the stump removed?

You may want to:

Lay a new lawn.

Install a patio or path.

Replant the area.

Build a shed or other garden structure.

Remove a trip hazard.

Simply reclaim the space.

Stump grinding can reduce the remaining stump below ground level, but whether this is necessary depends upon what you plan to do with the garden afterwards.

This is worth discussing before the tree is felled rather than discovering afterwards that you still have a stump exactly where you wanted your new patio.

7. Wildlife Can Affect When Tree Work Takes Place

Trees aren't simply garden features.

They're habitats.

Birds may nest within branches, cavities and dense foliage, while mature trees can provide habitat for many other species.

This is particularly important when tree work is being considered during the bird breeding season.

Active bird nests are legally protected.

What does this mean for homeowners?

It doesn't mean tree work can never take place during spring or summer.

It means the presence of wildlife needs to be considered before work proceeds.

If an active nest is discovered, work that could damage or disturb it may need to be postponed or altered.

This is another reason why inspecting a tree before simply deciding to cut it down is important.

8. Your Neighbour's Property Matters Too

The trunk may be entirely inside your garden.

The canopy might not be.

Mature trees don't recognise property boundaries.

Branches may extend across neighbouring gardens, sheds, garages, conservatories or fences.

Tree removal therefore sometimes requires thinking beyond your own side of the boundary.

Sections may need to be carefully lowered rather than dropped. Access might need discussion. Particular care may be required around neighbouring property.

And sometimes simply talking to your neighbour beforehand can make the whole process easier.

Good tree work considers the surroundings

The objective isn't simply:

"How do we get this tree down?"

It's:

"How do we remove this tree safely while protecting everything around it?"

That's a very different question.

9. Felling Isn't Always the Best Answer

This one is important.

Just because a homeowner calls about removing a tree doesn't automatically mean felling should be the first recommendation.

Perhaps the problem is excessive shade.

Maybe several branches are approaching the house.

Perhaps the canopy has become too large for the garden.

Or the owner is concerned because the tree moved during high winds.

Depending upon the tree and its condition, alternatives may sometimes be appropriate.

These might include carefully planned pruning, crown reduction, removing dead or damaged branches or managing particular areas of growth.

Sometimes removal is unavoidable

A tree may be dead, dangerous, badly damaged, diseased or simply completely unsuitable for its location.

But where a healthy tree can reasonably be retained and managed, it is worth considering the alternatives before deciding on complete removal.

A mature tree may have taken decades to grow.

It can be removed in a day.

10. The Job Isn't Finished When the Tree Hits the Ground

The final thing nobody tells you about tree felling is that you need to think about what happens next.

Removing a large tree can completely change a garden.

Suddenly there's more sunlight.

An area that was previously dry and shaded may receive rain and sunshine.

Plants growing beneath the old canopy may find themselves in completely different conditions.

And, of course, you're left with a space where a tree once stood.

This can also create an opportunity

Could the area become part of a new lawn?

Would it make a good location for a flower bed?

Could you plant a smaller, more appropriate tree?

Could the additional light allow you to redesign part of the garden?

For Clyne Trees & Gardens, this is where tree work and landscaping naturally meet.

Sometimes removing an unsuitable tree isn't simply the end of something.

It can be the beginning of improving the rest of the garden.

So, How Do You Know If a Tree Really Needs Felling?

There isn't one universal answer.

A homeowner might consider tree removal because a tree is:

Dead or seriously declining.

Structurally unsafe.

Badly storm damaged.

Growing in a completely unsuitable location.

Causing problems that can't reasonably be managed through pruning.

Preventing planned changes to the garden.

Too large for its surroundings.

Or simply creating concern because its condition has noticeably changed.

The important thing is not to diagnose a large tree from the kitchen window.

If you're concerned about its condition, have it properly looked at before deciding what should happen next.

Tree Felling Isn't a DIY Job for the Weekend

Cutting a small sapling and removing a mature tree are two completely different things.

Tree felling brings together height, weight, gravity, chainsaws, falling branches and sometimes buildings, roads, neighbouring properties and overhead services.

A branch that looks relatively small from the ground can be extremely heavy once cut.

The risks increase dramatically when ladders, climbing or chainsaws above ground level become involved.

Knowing when not to attempt something yourself is an important part of looking after your garden safely.

What Should You Ask Before Hiring Someone to Fell a Tree?

Don't base your decision purely on who provides the cheapest price.

Ask what the proposed work actually involves.

Will the tree be felled whole or dismantled?

What happens to the branches?

What happens to the timber?

Is removal and clean-up included?

Will the stump remain?

Could surrounding fences, sheds, patios or planting need protection?

Are there any access problems?

Does the tree require any checks before work begins?

Understanding the answers gives you a much better idea of what you're actually paying for.

Tree Felling Services in Kirkcaldy and Across Fife

At Clyne Trees & Gardens, we believe tree removal should begin with understanding why the tree needs to come down and what surrounds it.

Our team provides professional tree and garden services throughout Kirkcaldy and Fife, from tree maintenance and pruning through to tree felling and removal where appropriate.

And because we also understand gardens and landscaping, we can help you think beyond simply removing the tree.

What happens to the space afterwards?

Would another species be more appropriate?

Could the area be replanted or incorporated into a wider garden improvement?

Those questions can be just as important as deciding how the original tree comes down.

If you have a tree you're concerned about, or you're considering having a tree removed from your property, speak to Clyne Trees & Gardens about the options before making the final decision.

Sometimes a tree needs to come down. The important part is making sure it comes down for the right reason, in the right way and with proper consideration for everything around it.