Dead Branch Removal In Burford, Ontario

Why Is There So Much Dead Wood On Sandy Soil?

Thirst is what explains it. Come August a tree unable to reach water will abandon whichever limbs are dearest to maintain, and the dearest are always the highest.

Hence the pattern in our dead branch removal work here. Bare wood at the summit of a tree that looks perfectly healthy lower down. Nothing is diseased. The tree simply ran out of water and made a choice.

Dead Ash Trees Are A Common Problem Around Burford

A dead ash is among the hardest trees to dismantle. The wood turns brittle, limbs release without any warning, and the hazards involved suit people who have taken a few apart already.

Emerald ash borer arrived in the county around 2010, and living ash is now a rarity. No survey ever counted the ash in farmyards and back lots, which is why so many dead ones are still upright. Ours is either a dead limb job or a complete felling, whichever you prefer.

Which Dead Branches Should Be Dealt With First?

Not every dead branch removal is urgent. A hanger, meaning a limb that has already broken and caught in the crown, is the one that moves to the top of the list, because it is coming down and nobody can say when.

We treat these as urgent:

- Broken wood already hanging, lodged among the branches or dangling from a strip of bark - Dead wood above a lane, a doorway, a parking spot or a walkway - Dead wood over a machinery shed, a barn roof or livestock - Anything dead close enough to reach a hydro line

Dead wood hanging over open field or lawn is a different matter and can usually wait for a scheduled visit.

How Can I Tell A Branch Is Dead From The Ground?

You can generally read a crown from the lane with nothing more than your eyes. Spot one of these and phone us:

- A leafless limb at midsummer surrounded by green foliage - Bark peeling off in plates, showing dry grey wood underneath - Fungal brackets pushing out of a limb, or a ring of them at ground level - Pale scraped patches on an ash, left by woodpeckers working after larvae

If you cannot tell either way, our attendance to settle it is free.

What Does A Dead Branch Removal Visit Involve?

Every part of the crown is examined before the dead branch removal starts. Dead wood seldom confines itself to one limb, and clearing everything in a single booking works out cheaper than a return trip.

During a dead branch removal, anything over a building or a lane comes down on a rope under full control. Brush is chipped, hauled off, and the ground is raked before we leave.