Glass, paper, plastic…tree? Ways to recycle that tree you just removed out back

Each January the last step of the Christmas tree lifecycle is on display – trees lining the streets waiting for their final trip to the mulch piles at the village reclamation facility. However, there are other ways to recycle or upcycle trees that may come down throughout the year – some are obvious but others not.

Firewood: Provided the wood isn’t diseased, keeping the wood to use throughout the year to burn either inside or out is the most obvious choice for that recycled tree.

Mulch: Coming in second place is mulch. Good for retaining moisture and blocking weed growth, mulch is a natural and attractive option. Once again, make sure the mulch doesn’t contain insect infestation or mold/disease.

Furniture: For those on the handy side, upcycled wood can be used to fashion stools, benches, tables and chairs.

Pathways: Spend 5 minutes on Pinterest and you’ll see hundreds of examples of how to use log ‘slices’ as decorative paths or even flooring for a rustic look and feel.

Decoration: Take the pathway and put it on the wall! Using cross-cuts of logs can be arranged, hung, painted and/or stained in any pattern or size.

Clocks: Found at every art fair is the famous ‘wood clock’. Using different colors, sizes and hardware, convert those cross-cut logs into attractive one-of-a kind clock!

Art: Picture frames, mobiles, hooks, stands – endless possibilities.

Vessel: Hollow out a section of log and use it for a planter, candle, container on the patio or in the sunroom.

Garden: Use thick branches to divide your garden into sections; use thin branches to mark vegetables, note dates or personalize however you see fit.

Fences: Full or partial fences made from repurposed wood either ripped from the trunk of the tree or using thicker branches create a natural boundary for your home.

Sculpture: Attention artists – using tree sections or even the remaining stumps, compelling sculptures can be created for a unique welcome to your home.

So whether it’s January and you’re ready to toss that tree out to the curb or its July and you just had a professional service take down that 130-year old Maple, there are plenty of ways to recycle other than mulch. Hopefully this list will help give you get some fun ideas to get started!

Do NOT try this at home! Tree Removal takes a professional!

Do NOT try this at home!  Tree Removal takes a professional!

Perhaps considered a cottage industry, tree removal and tree care companies are big business and especially qualified to provide a vital service. While caring for your trees by planting, pruning and maintenance may seem like a DIY activity – that’s not always the case. As trees grow, caring for them becomes riskier and can be hazardous when calculating the tree’s physics, biology, using power tools, cutting techniques and more. Individuals who attempt to lumberjack their way to caring for their trees may become injured by falling limbs, malfunctioning tools or by the tree itself. In fact, tree removal is considered one of the most dangerous property maintenance tasks anyone could perform. According to the U.S. Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, there were 1,285 tree maintenance worker deaths between 1992 and 2007 – and these were licensed professionals.

Know the risks

While not obvious at first, some common tree removal risks include:

• Power lines – it should be obvious that working near any power lines is dangerous and you should always assume power lines are live and extreme caution should be taken when working nearby. Whether you or your tools hit the power line, you could not only knock out the power to your neighborhood – at best. At worst, you could be electrocuted.
• Equipment – OSHA requires tree service professionals to use proper equipment and protective gear. Technicians are also trained to use specialized equipment that include chain saws, ropes, cranes to service and maintain trees.
• Decay – dead or dying trees are weak. From the outside, the tree may appear whole – but upon further inspection, trees can be completely hollow – a shell of its former glory. If you think a tree is decaying, it’s worth calling a professional to help determine the best treatment or care plan.
• Gravity – you won’t win against gravity. Once a tree starts to weaken and ultimately fall, you have no control over where it lands. Get it wrong and you may be sorry!

Do your homework

Like anything else, it’s important to educate yourself going into any project. When it comes to tree care or tree service, make sure you know who you’re dealing with:

• Are they certified?
• Are they insured?
• Can they provide you with references?
• How long will the work take?
• Can they give you a detailed estimate?
• What kinds of equipment will they be using?
• How safe with their technicians be?

Don’t be a hero

Property owners shouldn’t attempt to go it alone when removing a tree – there are too many serious risks involved and increases the chance for more serious problems. If you have a tree that requires removal, unLIMBited Tree Service can help. We’re available 24/7 for all of your servicing needs. Protect yourself and your property and hire a professional!

When it rains – it pours. And when it pours – Annapolis floods!

When it rains – it pours. 

And when it pours – Annapolis floods!

Trees and Roads Flooding in Annapolis  -  Source: Capital Gazette

While it’s no exaggeration, Annapolis, Maryland is especially susceptible to ‘nuisance’ floods and flash floods given its low-lying coastal location at the mouth of the Severn River, Annapolis Harbor and Spa Creek. This spawns issues with roadways, fallen trees, structural issues and shoreline erosion.  Flooding in Annapolis isn’t new. In fact, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) notes that Annapolis, as well as some other key coastal cities, can expect 30 days of flooding every year due to rising sea levels.

By the numbers

Annapolis averaged 3.8 days a year with nuisance flooding between 1957 and 1963. Between 2007 and 2013, Annapolis averaged 39.3 of those days a year – a sobering increase of more than 900 percent. Additionally, the NOAA compared data from 2007-2013 with 1957-1963 and showed that the mean sea level had risen about 3.6 millimeters in Annapolis each year, compared to just 3.25 millimeters in Baltimore. Other cities that saw increases in sea levels were Atlantic City and Sandy Hook (NJ), Philadelphia (PA), Port Isabel (TX), Charleston (SC), Washington D.C., San Francisco (CA, and Norfolk (VA).

The 2013 report went so far as to make recommendations from scientists to urge Maryland to plan for sea level rise of up to 2 feet in the next 40 years which prompted city officials to urge coastal communities to adjust building codes and zoning laws. Part of the battle is underway as the city committed $7.5 million to build a new bulkhead around Ego Alley but plenty of more work will be needed coming out of the 2016, $100,000 study. Remedies will include back-flow preventers in the pipes that carry storm water away from the area, providing the biggest benefits to local business that suffer during heavy flooding, as well as the historic buildings that are central to Annapolis’ character and charm.  This doesn't include the costs from emergency tree removal services the city bares from companies that are continually on call.

End game

While Annapolis isn't projected to experience the nation's highest sea level rise in the next 30 years – it will see water rise by 5.5 inches by 2030 and 12 inches by 2045, according to the 2014 report by the Union of Concerned Scientists. Through the careful collaboration between the U.S. Naval Academy, NOAA, cooperating local and national officials and scientists, the nuisance will continue but hopefully be better managed.  It will be a process of watching the landscape of Annapolis change and working with engineers, arborists and county officials to ensure that the wide range of issues, such as falling trees, shoreline erosion, and building foundations are watch closely.