Can you trim or remove a tree yourself, or should you hire a professional?
Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team
Where is the line between a homeowner job and a professional one?
At the height of your own reach. Penn State Extension's Master Gardeners give the rule of thumb: if you cannot reach a limb to be pruned from the ground, call an arborist. Penn State's pruning guide draws the same line in more detail. It says anyone who understands plants and has the right tools can do simple pruning, such as cutting lower branches from small trees, but that climbing into trees, using power tools up in a tree and especially working near electric lines should be left to qualified professionals.
Why is tree work so dangerous?
Because it combines height, heavy falling wood, sharp tools and electricity. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 80 deaths among tree trimmers and pruners in 2023. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) names falls from trees and lifts, being struck by falling trees, limbs and tools, cuts, and contact with power lines as the main hazards. It expects employers to check the health of the tree and the site before work starts, and to provide protection such as cut-resistant leg wear for chain saw work. It also says chainsaws and chippers create high noise levels, and requires a hearing conservation program where a worker's exposure averages 85 dBA over eight hours.
None of those rules bind a homeowner, but they show what a professional crew prepares for. The International Society of Arboriculture says tree work should be done only by those trained and equipped to work safely in trees.
What can you safely do yourself?
A fair amount, all of it from the ground.
- Prune small, young trees. Penn State says a few minutes of thoughtful pruning on a young tree can save hours of costly pruning later, and recommends removing branches before they are more than 1 inch thick, keeping one main trunk and taking out crossing or rubbing branches.
- Mulch. Penn State recommends 2 to 3 inches of mulch at the base of a young tree, kept 2 to 3 inches away from the trunk.
- Watch for trouble. ISA says discolored leaves, dead branches and early leaf drop are signs to call an arborist. The full list is in signs a tree needs an arborist.
- Destroy lanternfly eggs. Pennsylvania's Department of Agriculture says scraping and smashing egg masses is easy and needs no special tools, and that each mass holds 30 to 50 eggs.
- Clean up. Penn State's Master Gardeners say you can sometimes save money by handling cleanup yourself after a professional job.
What should you never do yourself?
- Work near a power line. PECO says not to climb or trim trees near power lines, and that even momentary contact with a line, or with a branch touching one, can severely injure or kill. The Public Utility Commission says to stay at least 10 feet from overhead lines and to carry ladders flat. For the wire to your own house, PECO will disconnect it so a contractor can work.
- Cut storm-damaged trees. Penn State says people are killed or severely injured every year trying to prune limbs or remove trees damaged by storms, because the wood can be under weight and tension that an inexperienced person cannot see, "Like mouse traps, ready to spring closed".
- Climb with a chainsaw or fell a large tree. Anything you cannot reach from the ground belongs to a trained, insured crew.
Can you deal with a stump yourself?
Some stumps, yes. Iowa State University Extension says digging out a stump is practical for small ones, under about 12 inches across, by cutting the side roots and prying it out. It warns that chains or ropes that slip or break while pulling a stump can cause serious harm. Letting a stump rot is cheap and safe but slow, often more than ten years; drilling holes and adding fertilizer can bring that down to one to three years. Iowa State does not recommend burning.
Renting a grinder is possible; Angi puts the rental at $100 to $300 a day. Remember that Pennsylvania One Call says anyone who plans to disturb the earth with powered equipment must notify the utilities first, homeowners included, whatever the depth.
What about spraying or injecting a tree yourself?
Read the label and know the limits. DCNR says some insecticides for emerald ash borer are sold for homeowner use, but that the most effective option is a restricted use pesticide that only certified applicators may apply. Treatment also has to start before the tree is attacked, and DCNR says only healthy ash trees of value should be considered for it; the rest should be removed before they become a hazard.
How do you hire well when you do hire?
Get the checks right. How to choose a tree service covers insurance and credentials, and what tree work costs gives the published price ranges. Businesses that serve your area are on the tree services directory page.
Sources
- Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries News Release, 2023 Results, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Inspection Guidance for Tree Care and Tree Removal Operations, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- Why Hire an Arborist?, International Society of Arboriculture (TreesAreGood.org)
- Pruning Landscape Trees, Penn State Extension
- When to Call an Arborist, Penn State Extension (Allegheny County Master Gardeners)
- Helping Trees Recover After Storms, Penn State Extension
- Tree Trimming Assistance, PECO
- Power Up Your Safety: PUC Essential Electric Tips for Pennsylvania's Warmer Months, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
- FAQs Homeowners, Pennsylvania One Call System
- How to Remove Tree Stumps, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
- Stump Grinding Cost, Angi
- Pennsylvania Expands Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine to Four Northeast and Northwest Counties, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
- Agrilus planipennis (Emerald Ash Borer), Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- Tree Health, International Society of Arboriculture (TreesAreGood.org)