Tree Removal when stuff is under it

When a tree is leaning toward buildings, or is  not just leaning but growing over a building, or is right over a fence, it poses several challenges during removal. This is the type of situation when you will see an arborist pull out all the tricks in his pocket, so to speak. At a job for the City of Deer Park, Washington, observers had the opportunity to see this impressive feat. 

When a tree is over a structure the arborist will use a bucket truck if he can. And he will let pieces fall free that will not risk damage to the structure below. But, once the "easier" parts of the removal are exhausted, the arborist will use ropes and pulleys, called rigging. Rigging is used to lower pieces of the tree down in a controlled manner. This takes more time, but ensures the structures below are not damaged. When lowering parts of a tree with rigging, the climber must be in the tree for a much longer time than if he were able to cut very large sections from the tree and let them fall free. It goes without saying that the climber must be very physically strong to be capable to do this work. 

Below is a slideshow and videos of the City of Deer Park tree removal where the tree was directly over a fence. A bucket truck allowed the arborist to stay out of the tree for part of the removal, but everything above the reach of the bucket truck had to be removed with the arborist in the tree.