How to Prepare for Professional Tree Removal in the MetroWest Area of Massachusetts

Even though a professional team can handle the heavy lifting when it comes to cutting down a tree, there are some things you can do to help us. Learn more about the steps you need to take prior to your tree cutting appointment to ensure our job goes smoothly.

Key Takeaways:

• Always start with a professional tree evaluation to determine if removal is necessary and to create a safe removal plan.
• Check local permit requirements before removing any tree, as regulations vary significantly between municipalities in the MetroWest area.
• Protect or remove anything valuable from around the tree and staging area, including outdoor furniture, landscaping, and structures, as falling limbs and heavy equipment can cause significant damage.
• Create adequate space for large equipment like cranes, bucket trucks, and wood chippers; removal teams want to position these as close to the tree as possible.
• Notify neighbors well in advance of tree removal, particularly if the work will affect shared parking, create noise disturbance, or require access to their property.

Five Steps to Take before Professional Tree Removal

If you’re planning to have a tree removed, a little preparation can make the process smoother. Taking the right steps ahead of time can help prevent delays, protect your property, and make the job safer for everyone involved. Here’s what you can do before the professionals arrive.

Step 1: Have a Professional Evaluate Your Trees

Before you make arrangements to cut down a tree, it’s best to have a professional inspect it and provide a recommendation. They may suggest removal or provide alternatives if there is something you can do to save the trees. If they tell you removal is the best option, the initial inspection will allow them to develop a plan on how best to cut down the tree safely and efficiently.

Some of the aspects they’ll look at include:

• The size of the tree
• The tree’s species
• The tree’s health (is it alive or dead)
• Any damage, decay, or structural instability
• Nearby power lines that will complicate the removal and necessitate calling a utility company
• Structures or roads at risk of damage if the tree falls
• Ease of access for cranes and bucket trucks to get near the tree
• Whose property the tree is on (You’d be surprised how many people don’t check this first and then find that they’ve cut down their neighbor’s tree or, worse yet, the city’s tree!)

PRO TIP: Want to learn more about how some of these factors complicate removal? Check out our previous articles about some common types of difficult tree removal:

• How to Remove a Tree in Confined Spaces
• Pine Tree Removal in Massachusetts
• Dead Ash Tree Removal

Remove any lawn furniture, potted plants, toys, etc. from the area before a tree removal.

Step 2: Apply for a Permit if Needed

Depending on where you live in the MetroWest area, you may need a permit to remove trees on private property. A professional will inform you of any permits they know of that you’ll need, but it never hurts to double-check with your local government office to stay legal.

For example, the town of Wayland has specific regulations regarding cutting down private trees. You’ll need a permit to remove any tree within 100 feet of wetlands or 200 feet of a river. Additionally, the town requires approval before removing more than seven trees that have trunks greater than six inches in diameter.

No matter where you live, you’ll almost certainly need a permit to remove a street tree. These are the ones between the sidewalk and the street; your local government owns them. Ensure you file for the appropriate permit before attempting to remove or prune one of these trees.

Step 3: Protect Personal Property Around Your Tree

After securing permits, it’s time to consider your tree’s surroundings. Falling trees and heavy equipment can cause extensive damage to your landscape and structures without adequate protection.

Some things to protect (or remove from the area) include:

• Nearby trees and shrubs
• Fences, arbors, pergolas, and other structures
• Paved patios or paths
• Outdoor furniture
• Potted plants
• Neighboring property and trees
• Pets and family

In short, move anything of value away from the tree’s vicinity and from the staging areas for green waste and wood chipping. A falling limb can cause severe damage and even death. And the heavy machinery a company uses can potentially fall over, as happened in Sudbury in October of 2024 when a crane crashed into a yard.

If there are any valuable landscape plants or other trees close by, follow these tips to prevent damage to branches, trunks, and roots.

Be a good neighbor, let your neighbors know beforehand that you have a tree removal scheduled.

Step 4: Make room for Tree Removal Equipment

Trees might seem big when they’re standing, but they take up even more space once they’re on the ground. A tree removal crew needs plenty of room to safely work, set up equipment, and process debris.

To keep the job running smoothly, we ask for your help in clearing the area before we arrive. That means moving any vehicles, outdoor furniture, or other obstacles from your driveway, yard, or the street to allow space for our equipment, which may include:

• Bucket Truck or Crane: Used to safely reach and remove the tree.
• Wood Chipper: For breaking down branches and green waste.
• Stump Grinder: To remove the remaining stump.
• Crew Trucks: Carrying safety gear, tools, and team members.

When removing a tree, we’ll want equipment as close as possible to the tree. That means having them on your lawn, driveway, or on the street. In tighter urban areas, such as the Coburnville neighborhood of Framingham, our only option may be street parking.

In more rural parts of MetroWest with larger yards, like the areas around Holliston or Sherborn, we can more easily bring our woodchipper or bucket truck into the yards near the trees.

PRO TIP: We only bring our equipment into a yard when it can handle it, typically during the dry parts of summer or in the winter when the ground is frozen. Heavy equipment in your yard when conditions are wet can lead to landscape damage and the equipment getting stuck.

Step 5: Inform Your Neighbors

An important part of tree removal planning is being considerate of your neighbors. Tree removal can be extremely noisy and disruptive. Be sure you give your neighbors plenty of notice before tree work commences, particularly if:

• Your tree is encroaching onto their property
• Their trees encroach onto yours and are at risk of damage
• Crews need access to your neighbor’s property to access your tree or to clean up green waste
• Trucks and equipment will take up parking spaces your neighbors may use

Even if you install temporary no-parking signs before tree removal starts in the morning, it’s a good idea to give people plenty of notice. Cooperation is key to ensuring a smooth removal, particularly in dense neighborhoods where parking and access are scarce.

If you live in a rural area and parking is no issue, informing your neighbors is still a good idea, as the service is quite noisy. By giving them a heads-up, they can make arrangements to stay indoors or protect their ears if they are near the action.

Frequently Asked Questions About Preparing for Tree Removal

To help you better prepare for your tree removal, we’ve answered some of the common questions about the service so you know what to expect.

How long does tree removal take?

The timeline of removal will vary depending on the tree’s size, condition, and location. Simpler jobs may only take a few hours, while more complicated jobs may take most of the day. We’ll inform you of the estimated timeline during the consultation process.

Can professionals remove trees close to a house?

Yes, using equipment like a crane, we can safely cut down trees near your house without causing damage to your home. We’ll develop a plan to safely remove the tree when we provide a quote.

What happens if there is a storm on the day of my tree removal?

We typically do not work in the rain or snow for safety reasons. We’ll reschedule your service as soon as possible when the weather is more favorable for tree work.

American Climbers Can Safely Remove Your MetroWest Trees

While it may seem like a lot of work, preparing for tree removal will reduce the risk of damage to your property, avoid any conflicts with neighbors, and allow us to complete the job as fast as possible.

If you have a tree that you think might need to come down, the team at American Climbers is ready to help. Our tree cutting team will remove it using safe practices and high-tech equipment. Call us today at 508-497-8628 or request a quote online.