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People often wonder “How to Get Rid of Osage Orange Trees” especially when they want to plant something else in their yard. If you don’t want an orange Orange tree on your property, consider removing it. However, it can be difficult as well as challenging to remove a tree, especially if it’s big. Since osage orange trees are known to grow up to 50 feet tall with dense root systems, it can be very tough for a normal person to do it.
Thus, you may need some assistance or a professional helpline from an arborist. However, let’s take a quick look at how to remove osage orange trees and what things you should keep in mind while removing them.
Ways to Get Rid of Osage Orange Trees
Since Osage orange trees attract insects, they can damage your property surroundings. In addition, some people also find the Thor of this tree dangerous and may want to remove them to make their landscape safe for pets and kids. No matter the reason, if you are key to learning to get rid of Osage orange trees, here’s what you need to know.
Preparation
Before you attempt to remove an Osage Orange tree, it’s important that you take the necessary safety precautions and gather the right tools & equipment.
Safety Precautions
No matter how big the tree is, removing, it can be dangerous if you are not taking proper precautions like wearing protective gear. I highly recommend you wear gloves on your hand while using the tools and have high protection with studies shoes.
If you have yet to gain experience cutting down a tree, you should call an arborist who can help you. In addition, if you are going to hand chemicals or change, you must follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and safety guidelines.
In the case of Big Trees, you should always call a professional, especially an arborist, who is trained to do this kind of tough job as they are well equipped to do so.
Choosing the Right Time to Remove
The best time to remove an Osage Orange tree is during its dormant season, typically in the fall or winter. This is when the tree’s growth has slowed and is less likely to regrow after removal.
Necessary Equipment and Tools
The tools and equipment you’ll need for Osage Orange tree removal will depend on your chosen method. If you’re thinking of Hand digging & cutting, you may require shovels, saws, and pruners, while mechanical removal will need heavy equipment such as a bulldozer or excavator.
Environmental Impact
You should also note that removing a tree can impact the surrounding environment, including soil erosion & changes to the surrounding ecosystem. You must also consider these factors and take the right steps to mitigate negative effects, like replanting native species or using proper erosion control measures.
5 Techniques for Removal
There are several methods for removing Osage Orange trees, including hand digging, cutting and removing stumps, using chemicals, burning, and mechanical tree removal that you can use to remove Osage Orange trees, depending on their size.
Hand Digging
This method works very well if you have small trees on your landscape. However, be ready to put effort and time into it because this method will consume a lot of time and tends to be a labor incentive.
You will need to use a shovel to take around the base of your tree & remove its root. Although time-consuming and labor extensive, this is a very effective method. You can hire labor or a professional to do this work.
Cutting and Removing Stumps
Another great method to remove Osage orange trees is cutting and removing stumps which involves cutting the tree down and removing the stump & roots using a chainsaw or stump grinder.
Even though this method is more efficient than hand digging, it can be very dangerous. Therefore I recommend you seek professional assistance.
Using Chemicals
I hope I don’t need to tell you that Chemical removal involves using herbicides to kill the tree and its roots.
Even though this method is extremely effective, it can also damage the surrounding plant and environment if you don’t take proper precautions or carefully apply it. Therefore, if you want to avoid damaging your surrounding environment & plants, consider hiring a professional to do this work.
Burning
As by its name, that burning method involves setting the tree and its branches on fire. This method can be dangerous and is not recommended for residential areas or areas with high wildfire risk.
Mechanical Tree Removal
Mechanical tree removal involves using heavy equipment like a bulldozer or excavator to uproot the tree and remove it from the site. This method is the most efficient but can be expensive and may cause significant damage to the surrounding landscape. Builders usually prefer this method.
Aftercare
Congratulations if you’ve successfully removed your Osage Orange tree from your property! However, don’t sit quietly because the work continues. Proper aftercare is crucial to ensure that the tree doesn’t grow back and that your property remains healthy & beautiful. Therefore, consider following these three things.
Disposing of Tree Parts
After removing the tree from your property, the first thing is to dispose of its part properly. If you don’t dispose of it properly, it may harbor pests & diseases which can harm the surrounding plant and environment.
You can either use the branches & trunk for firewood purposes or have them chipped for mulch. However, if your tree is suffering from any infestation or disease, it’s recommended not to use it anyway, as it can also spread the disease or infestation.
To dispose of such a tree, consider contacting your local waste management department. Make sure you find out their disposal policies before handing over the tree. If you want to use it as firewood, get the fresh ones. Therefore read “Where To Buy Osage Orange Wood“.
Dealing with Roots
You should know that Osage Orange trees have deep, extensive root systems that can be difficult to remove. Even though you can use a stump grinder to remove the stump and roots, this can be dangerous.
Therefore you must have professionals involved. Another option to deal with it is by letting the roots decompose naturally. Don’t worry much because you can speed up the process by drilling holes in the stump and filling them with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
Replanting or Re-landscaping
After successfully removing the Osage Orange tree, you might wonder what to do with the space. Well, you can do whatever you want, but it’s to replant it with a new tree or shrubs.
However, when you visit the nursery to choose the right spaces for you, you must consider the appropriate one for your region and soil type so it won’t cause the same problem as the osage orange this time.
If you don’t want to replant anything, consider creating a new landscape feature like a flower bed or patio. After removing the Osage Orange tree, you should maintain the area to prevent the tree from growing back.
Therefore, Keep the area free of debris and weeds, & monitor for any regrowth. If you notice any new shoots, you must cut them off or use a chemical herbicide to kill them promptly.
Hiring Professionals
When to Consider Hiring Professionals
As I told you earlier, removing an Osage orange tree from any property is a very difficult task and dangerous, especially if it is large or grown in a hard-to-reach area. Therefore, you should always take the help of a professional if you need to gain experience with tree removal.
I recommend you always avoid doing it yourself even though you have experience. It is better to get someone involved in the case of large trees.
You should consider calling an arborist if the tree is very close to power lines or other structures that may get damaged during removal. Arborists are perfectly trained to do this work and to prevent accidents. Even though it may cost you a bit, it’s best to take help from them.
Finding the Right Company
When hiring a tree removal company, choose a reputable and licensed professional. Therefore, consider checking online reviews & ask for references. Ensure the company you’re looking to hire has liability insurance in case of accidents, and get a written estimate before starting the work.
Costs of Professional Removal
The actual cost of professional Osage Orange tree removal in your area can vary depending on the size & location of the tree and the complexity of the removal. If you’re an average homeowner, you can expect to pay between $500 and $1,500 for professional removal.
Conclusion
As I told you, Removing an Osage Orange tree can be challenging, so it’s better to let the professionals handle this in the case of large ones. Even though you can do it safely and effectively with the right tools & knowledge, it’s better to involve some experienced person.
After reading this article, I hope you have no questions about how to eliminate osage orange trees. If you find this article helpful, then consider sharing it. Your share will help many people learn how to eliminate osage orange trees.
Do check our other helpful guide on osage orange tree care & management. See you in the next post. Till then, take care, and goodbye.