Having shade provided to your yard by fully mature trees can often create a nice atmosphere outside your home or business. However, with these benefits also arise issues which can cause problems should a large limb or even the full tree fall onto your own or a surrounding property. Not only can these trees cause tremendous damage to personal property, such as a vehicle or residence, but they also create more than a handful of problematic issues when reaching the ground uninhibited by any other objects. Once down, it becomes the responsibility of the landowner on which the tree is lying to provide for the removal if he or she so desires.

For example, two neighbors who may or may not get along for any number of reasons have a fully grown tree (between 40 to 70 feet on average) which falls after a heavy rain and high winds. It appears the saturated ground became way to unsteady and winds blew the tree over, root system and all. The tree, originally located on property owned by Neighbor A falls onto land owned by Neighbor B. Now, where 100-percent of the tree was once entirely the responsibility of Neighbor A, only 10-percent resides on Property A and the remaining 90-percent has landed on the ground, fortunately not causing any other damage to anything else, owned by Neighbor B.

Whose problem is it now and who will bear the responsibility of removal?

According to most, if a tree falls into another person’s yard, the land owner of the property where the tree has fallen is now responsible for cleanup. In the scenario above, Neighbor B would be charged with incurring both the cost and execution of clean up (if so desired).

Fortunately, there are a number of options available for the tree in question including, but not limited to, each of the below.

Firewood

If optimistic and you have a wood burning stove, fireplace, or simply an outdoor fire pit - a fallen tree can essentially provide free wood. While the owner will obviously take time cutting the tree into useable pieces, the wood provided from such an act can be extremely beneficial. Depending on the tree type in question, the wood may be used shortly after falling, and should be capable of providing significant heat or hours of entertainment if elected to be used in a fire pit.

Should the landowner not have an immediate need for any firewood, there are often individuals who will gladly pay for the wood and may cover the cost of removal if granted possession of the entire tree. These individuals will then potentially use the wood themselves or attempt to sell it elsewhere for a profit.

Decoration

There have been many useful tree stump ideas for the remnants of a removed tree but often these are only available when a mature tree has been removed professionally. If a storm or high winds fell a tree, often the results are splintered trunks or entire root systems which have been unearthed, instead of a clean-cut stump which can be easily converted into a decorative planter or table top.

Regardless, the entire trunk can be utilized as a decorative piece in addition to shaping the branches and limbs into something more aesthetically pleasing once a tree has fallen.

Natural Habitat

Hollowed out trunks can be inviting homes for a number of wildlife creatures and leaving a fallen tree, if located in an inconspicuous location, could have lasting benefits for those animals in their natural habitat.

This life in dead trees provides a suitable home or nesting spot for many animals, birds and even insects to flourish. The cover provided by a hollowed out trunk from a cracking fall can be one of the most natural habitats in all of the woods and may provide an owner with a unique opportunity to somewhat foster the growth of an ecosystem by opting to stick with the natural occurrence instead of attempting to reverse a natural cause.

While providing both an economical and ecosystem friendly solution, inviting these animals and insects into an area within close proximity to your home can also be a risky situation. An owner must weigh the benefits and rewards if choosing to let a fallen tree lie where it lays for any extended amount of time.

Mulch/Chipping

On the opposite end of the spectrum, is complete removal but a repurpose of the tree itself - at least the branches and many of the limbs. Chipping these into mulch can provide a healthy layer of protection around your garden, plant beds, or other trees themselves. These wood chipped mulch pieces will help to keep a steady soil temperature for the plants at which it is utilized in addition to helping combat the effects of erosion around other plants.

Boundary Marker

A final option, if both parties involved in the outcome of a felled tree are extremely lucky is to have the fallen tree serve as a boundary marker for the future. Should the tree fall precisely on the line or somewhat close, then both parties may determine that non-removal is the best option and instead utilize the presence of a now somewhat permanent and definitely visible representation of the property line.

While unlikely, this option could serve as a benefit to both those neighbors who get along great and in the same situation for those who may not see eye-to-eye.

Arbor Garden Tree & Landscaping has been serving the Denver metro area for 23 years. We began in 1994 with one truck and now have a full service arborist business. Our locally owned and operated company is proud to serve Denver metro area residents and business owners including the Denver Country Club, Castle Pines Country Club, city and county governments, various homeowners associations and private homeowners. Our knowledgeable and certified arborists would be more happy to provide you with tree trimming, tree removal, tree planting and landscaping services. When you’re ready to get started give us a call at 303-722-8820 or fill out our contact form today.