Taking care of the trees around your home can involve everything from picking up small fallen branches to removing large limbs or an entire tree. Some basic tree maintenance can be handled safely by homeowners, especially when the work involves small branches that can be reached from the ground.
However, tree work becomes considerably more complicated when it involves large branches, chainsaws, ladders, storm-damaged trees, leaning trees, or trees growing close to homes and other structures.
Knowing where DIY tree maintenance should end and professional tree service should begin can help protect you, your property, and your trees.
Not every tree-related job requires a professional tree service.
Homeowners can often handle simple maintenance such as:
The key is being able to perform the work while standing safely on the ground and remaining in control of the branch being removed.
Once a job requires climbing, working from a ladder, using a chainsaw overhead, or cutting branches large enough to cause damage when they fall, professional help should be considered.
The size of the tree isn't the only thing that determines whether professional help is needed. Location, structural condition, storm damage, branch size, and available working space can all make tree work more difficult.
Here are seven situations where calling a professional tree service may be the safer choice.
Tree trimming becomes much more hazardous when ladders are involved.
Using cutting tools while balancing on a ladder can make it difficult to maintain control of both yourself and the branch being removed. A falling branch can also strike the ladder or cause it to shift.
This becomes even more dangerous when a chainsaw is involved.
If branches can't be safely reached from the ground, professional tree crews can use appropriate climbing techniques or aerial equipment to access the canopy.
For trees that need overgrown, damaged, or problematic branches removed, learn more about Nic's Works' professional tree trimming services.
Tree branches can weigh much more than they appear to from the ground.
A large branch may contain hundreds or even thousands of pounds of wood, particularly when it extends far from the trunk.
Once a cut is made, the branch can:
Professional crews can use rigging and other techniques to control large tree sections rather than simply allowing them to fall.
If the tree is otherwise healthy, professional tree pruning may allow damaged, dead, or problematic branches to be removed while preserving the tree.
Trees throughout the Brainerd Lakes Area often grow very close to homes and cabins.
A tree that has plenty of open space around it may be relatively straightforward to work on. The same tree becomes much more complicated when branches extend over:
Lake properties can present additional challenges because of shorelines, slopes, narrow driveways, landscaping, and limited equipment access.
In these situations, the tree often needs to be dismantled carefully so branches and trunk sections can be controlled during removal.
This type of work is one of the reasons Nic's Works specializes in large and hazardous trees near homes, cabins, and other structures.
Not every leaning tree needs to be removed.
Some trees naturally grow at an angle and remain stable for decades. The more concerning situation is a tree that has recently started leaning or whose lean is becoming noticeably worse.
Watch for warning signs such as:
Trying to correct or cut a large leaning tree without understanding why it is leaning can make the situation more dangerous.
If you're concerned about a leaning tree, read our guide explaining how to tell if a leaning tree may be dangerous.
Minnesota storms can leave trees in unpredictable conditions.
High winds, heavy rain, snow, and ice can result in:
Storm-damaged trees can contain branches and trunks under significant tension. Cutting one portion of the tree can cause another section to move unexpectedly.
If you're dealing with storm damage, read what to do when a tree is damaged by a storm before beginning cleanup.
When a damaged tree presents an immediate threat to people or property, emergency tree service may be necessary.
A tree with a few damaged branches doesn't necessarily need to come down.
However, complete removal may become necessary when a tree has serious problems such as:
Large tree removal is very different from trimming small branches.
The weight and position of the tree must be considered along with surrounding structures, available working space, access for equipment, and where each section of the tree can safely go.
Nic's Works provides professional tree removal and tree cutting for large, hazardous, and difficult trees throughout the Brainerd Lakes Area.
Professional tree work often involves much more than a chainsaw.
Depending on the job, crews may use specialized equipment for accessing trees, controlling heavy branches and trunks, moving logs, processing debris, and protecting surrounding property.
The equipment required becomes especially important when working with:
Proper equipment can allow tree sections to be removed in a controlled manner instead of simply dropping them onto the property.
It can also make cleanup considerably more efficient once the tree work is completed.
These terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but they can describe different types of tree work.
Tree trimming generally involves controlling overgrowth, improving clearance, removing unwanted branches, and maintaining the appearance of a tree.
For example, branches may need to be trimmed away from a roof, driveway, building, or other area.
Learn more about tree trimming services.
Tree pruning involves selectively removing specific branches for a particular objective.
This can include removing dead or damaged branches, addressing structural concerns, improving clearance, or maintaining an otherwise healthy tree.
Learn more about professional tree pruning.
Tree removal involves taking down the entire tree.
Removal may be appropriate when a tree is dead, severely damaged, structurally compromised, or presents a risk that cannot reasonably be addressed through pruning.
Learn more about large and hazardous tree removal.
The larger the tree becomes, the greater the forces involved.
Large branches and trunk sections can weigh thousands of pounds. The height of the tree also increases the distance those sections can fall and the amount of surrounding property they can potentially reach.
Professional crews have to consider:
These challenges are common throughout Brainerd, Baxter, Nisswa, Crosslake, Pequot Lakes, Merrifield, East Gull Lake, Lake Shore, Breezy Point, and the surrounding lake country, where mature trees often grow close to homes and cabins.
A tree that might be straightforward to remove from an open field can require an entirely different approach when it is growing between a house, garage, shoreline, and neighboring property.
There isn't one specific branch diameter or tree height that determines whether every job is safe for a homeowner.
Instead, consider the entire situation.
Professional help should be strongly considered when the job involves:
Never attempt tree work near electrical lines. Contact the appropriate utility provider when a tree or branch is touching or dangerously close to utility lines.
Sometimes the best tree service is not removing the tree.
A healthy mature tree may have one or more dead, broken, damaged, or poorly positioned branches while the trunk and root system remain structurally sound.
Proper pruning may allow those problems to be addressed while preserving the tree.
That's why the decision shouldn't simply be:
“Can this tree be cut down?”
A better question is:
“What does this tree actually need?”
Depending on the condition of the tree, the appropriate solution might be monitoring, trimming, pruning, or complete removal.
Small branches that can be safely reached from the ground may be manageable for some homeowners with appropriate hand tools. Larger branches, elevated work, damaged trees, and work around structures can require professional assistance.
Branch diameter isn't the only consideration. Height, weight, location, tension, tree condition, and where the branch will fall all matter. If you cannot safely control the branch from the ground, professional help should be considered.
Using a chainsaw while balancing on a ladder creates significant hazards. Tree work requiring both a ladder and chainsaw is generally a good indication that professional equipment may be more appropriate.
It depends on why the tree is leaning. A long-standing natural lean may not require removal, while a newly leaning tree with root movement or structural damage can be more concerning.
Sometimes. Trees with limited branch damage may recover after proper pruning. Severe root failure, major trunk splitting, or extensive structural damage may make removal necessary.
Tree trimming often focuses on overgrowth, clearance, and appearance, while pruning typically involves selectively removing branches to address specific structural, health, safety, or clearance objectives.
Homeowners can handle some basic tree maintenance themselves, but there comes a point when the size, height, condition, or location of a tree makes professional equipment and experience important.
Nic's Works provides professional tree services throughout the Brainerd Lakes Area, including Brainerd, Baxter, Nisswa, Crosslake, Pequot Lakes, Merrifield, East Gull Lake, Lake Shore, Breezy Point, and surrounding Central Minnesota communities.
We specialize in large and hazardous trees, trees near homes and cabins, storm-damaged trees, and difficult-access properties.
Whether your tree needs trimming, pruning, or complete removal, the goal is to choose the appropriate solution for the tree and your property.
Request an estimate from Nic's Works if you have a tree you're not comfortable working on yourself.
Nic's Works LLC
954 Poplar Drive
East Gull Lake, MN 56401
218-270-0861
