When we moved into this house about nine years ago, this fence was screened with Red-Tip Photinias. Any good southerner knows this is not an optimal situation as these trees are problematic and disease ridden. BUT they were already here and did provide a nice screen so we left them.
We knew last year they were on the way out. We did what we could to save them but the wet and cold winter finished them off. We were left with dead trees across the back. Because they were in the high lines, we tried to have the city electric company come top them out but they weren’t up to the most powerful line and they would not help out.
DH decided we would do it. (Insert favorite Darwin award or redneck joke here). And our DIY Tree Removal project began. He did a fair amount without my assistance which is probably best because I’m sure I would have shut down the project shortly into the first limb.
In his defense, we had other trees removed professionally before so we had an idea of the calculation of the cuts and how the trees would fall. DH prefaced each cut with “if I cut it here at this angle, it should fall there, theoretically.” And I followed up with, “here goes nothing“, which is classic redneck jargon.
At the end of the day we only had two scary moments (one with a nylon rope tied around my waist, but that’s a story for another day). I know we provided great entertainment for the neighbors. One watched quite a while and even commented, “Uh uh uh, what a mess!”
Here’s how our curb looks today. Our city provides lawn pickup and we hope that includes this mess. We shall see. If not, part B of said project will commence.
Overall I consider the project to be a success. However, I am a firm believer that some jobs are just better left to the professionals. Tree removal is one such job – no matter how large or small the project.
Have you any self-proclaimed redneck moments? I would love to laugh with you!
~Southern Fried Gal
p.s. I hope you will join me for my Garden Party this Thursday and my Practice Hospitality Linky Series each Monday in June! Please help me spread the word!
June 1, 2010
I totally agree! I’m a little spoiled though b/c my hubby owns a tree and landscape business.
With all the safety gear he uses, and all the training he’s had, I know it’s NOT something for the amateur to attempt.~ I’m looking forward to your practice hospitality party…AND I just saw that you’re SLAH girl! That’s just my favorite stuff in the world! Did I hear tale of a merger coming up? Also, when does the spring catalog expire?
June 1, 2010
Ha! Love it!! My hubs and FIL felled several huge pine and oak trees on the the side of our house that were tearing up the driveway (roots). It was sort of scary, but they knew what they were doing…apparently.
Self-proclaimed redneck moment? Sleeping on our mattresses downstairs last night (and tonight) b/c the AC is still out upstairs and they can’t come til tomorrow to fix it. :s
June 2, 2010
Aren’t you glad that those trees are gone and you didn’t have to pay someone to do it??
There’s always redneck engineering going on at my house. My favorite one is when the center console wore out in my husband’s Barreta. Rather than go to the junkyard to look for a replacement like he’d done for the seats, he crafted one out of wood. Git ‘r done!