Terrible Termites: Removing A Termite Tree From Your Yard
Posted on: 25 July 2017
When one of the trees in your yard becomes a haven for termites, you might feel a moment of panic. Will they travel to your house? Is it safe to leave the tree at all? Fortunately, termites in a tree do not mean your house will be the next feast, but you do want to eliminate the risk. Here's what you need to know about removing a termite tree in your yard.
The Tree Cannot Be Saved
While a few strains of termites will attack living wood, most termites prefer wood that is already beginning to decay. This means your tree was likely in poor health to begin with. If it's a big, beautiful tree, some homeowners hope they can treat the tree and save it, but termites work quickly to compromise the structure of the tree from the bottom up. very rarely can a termite tree be saved.
Consider Professional Removal
You can call a tree removal service like Destiny's Tree Service LLC to take the tree out for you. Choosing this option provides a number of advantages, including:
- Safety. Those who are trained to remove the tree will do so without injury to anyone.
- Insurance. if the tree should harm part of your property, such as a fence or even another tree, you can recoup the damages through the tree company's insurance policy.
- Equipment. Large equipment is often needed for tree removal, especially if the tree is very large. This equipment can be hard to haul and maneuver in a small yard if you don't have expertise.
Be Safe If Choosing to Remove it Yourself
However, some DIY homeowners are not daunted by the task of felling the termite tree on their own. To do it properly, you will need:
- a boom with a lift. These can be rented from local heavy duty equipment rental companies. This allows you to stand in the lift box and reach the high branches of the tree.
- ropes. You tie ropes to large branches before cutting them off to control their descent. This protects the machinery and the people who are assisting you with the boom.
- a chain saw.
- wedges. Wedges are necessary for keeping the pressure off the chain saw blade when cutting through thick trunks and branches.
- a trailer.
- a hatchet.
You begin at the top of the tree, cutting off small chunks of branches. You gradually work around the tree, never cutting off large portions that could fall and harm someone. Once your are down to a bare stump, you can remove slices of the stump in generously sized pieces.
Treat the Stump
If you are choosing the leave the stump, the woody material will remain food for the termites, who live under ground. Your goal is to use the stump as bait to poison a large number of the colony. If you leave it untreated, the termites will move on to other food sources, including houses.
If you can't find insecticide designed for termites at your local store, order a batch online. Mix the batch according to the package directions. Douse the stump in an entire batch of insecticide. The liquid will leach down into the soil and the wood, and any termites entering or leaving the place will be affected.
You also want to protect your house using a second batch of termite pesticide. Using a spade, dig a shallow trench around the perimeter of your house. Using a sprayer or controlled flow pitcher, pour insecticide into the trench. Cover the trench back again with the displaced dirt. This will create a barrier against termites who enter and leave your home.
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