How to Remove a Tree in Indianapolis

Small Trees

• 1

  Put at least four stakes into the ground at roughly equal intervals around the small tree you want to remove. Wrap wires around the tree, and wrap the ends of one wire around each stake to secure the tree.

• 2

  Dig out the soil around the tree's roots with a shovel. Once you can see the roots, dig outward to reach the ends of the roots. Cut through stringy roots with the tip of the shovel.

• 3

  Pull the stakes up on one side of the tree while one or two people support the tree on the other side, depending upon the size of the tree. Take the wires off the tree. Wrap a wet towel around the roots of the tree, and place a plastic bag over the wrapped roots to keep them moist if you intend to transplant the tree. Replant the tree before mid-spring, when most trees begin blooming in Indianapolis.

Large Trees

• 4

  Cut a large tree beginning at its top, using a ladder to reach the top of the crown. Cut limbs and small branches off the larger branches with a pruning saw. Continue downward from the top of the tree until you eliminate all of the branches that can be removed with the pruning saw.

• 5

  Return to the top of the tree's crown. Cut away 1 to 2 feet of the large branches at one time using a chainsaw. When cutting large branches, position your ladder so that the branches won't hit its bottom and cause the ladder to topple.

• 6

  Cut down the trunk of the tree. Unless you have the space to let the tree fall at its full length, cutting 1 to 2 feet off the trunk at a time is a way to do this without having too large of pieces falling into the field or yard.

• 7

  Allow the tree stump to die naturally and rot if it is not in the way. If the tree stump is in the way of other projects, apply a chemical stump remover to kill the stump more quickly, or use a tree stump grinder to pulverize the stump.