Crane-assisted tree removal is a technique used to safely remove large, hazardous, and hard-to-reach trees. This method involves using a crane to lift and transport large sections of the tree, drastically reducing the risk of damage to property and injury to the arborist working aloft and crew working from the ground. Before any work begins, an assessment of the tree and surrounding area will be done to determine the best approach. Factors such as the tree’s size, condition, and proximity to structures are considered.

A crane is brought to the site and set up in a location that provides optimal reach while minimizing the impact on the property. An arborist will climb the tree to secure sections of the slings attached to the crane. They then cut the tree into appropriately sized sections as determined by the cranes lifting capacity.  The crane lifts each section away, to a safe drop zone and the wood is safely processed further. Safety is paramount in crane-assisted tree removal. Workers wear all required PPE (personal protective equipment), and the area is often cordoned off to keep bystanders safe.

This method is especially useful for trees that are too large, unstable, very dead, or located in areas where traditional climbing and rigging would be too risky or there is no equipment access to move and manage the wood. While it can be more expensive than conventional methods, crane-assisted tree removal is often the safest and most efficient option for complex situations. Often the added cost of crane-assisted tree removal is offset by the reduction in man hours by not requiring a large crew to hand carry out the wood piece by piece. Thus, crane-assisted tree removal is much faster than traditional methods staying true to the old saying “Time is money.”