Get matched with top leaf removal pros in Fort Wainwright, AK

Manual removal is the only method that includes removing the tree’s roots. Otherwise, root removal is considered a separate job—and depending on the complexity of your root system, you can expect to pay between $100 and $200 per hour for a tree professional to remove roots safely.

While the fastest way to kill a tree is to simply cut it down, there are several other methods to choose from. You should hire a professional tree removal service to cut down a tree to ensure your personal and property safety. Some slower but effective options include treating or grinding the tree stump or using a basal bark treatment. 

In extreme cases, cutting a tree’s roots can cause it to eventually fall if the roots that were trimmed affect the tree’s structure and stability. If you make severe cuts to roots that are more than 2 inches in diameter, you run the risk of affecting the tree’s water flow as well as its ability to withstand severe winds or storms that could cause it to fall.

The most common alternative is burning the stump first, then dealing with the cinders and ashes. As you can imagine, this option creates fire hazards, especially since roots can burn underground, hidden, for long afterward. That’s why many states and cities have outlawed the use of stump burning entirely. We do not recommend this option as a viable alternative unless you get a permit from the local fire department and practice all safe burning procedures.

Others prefer a more long-term DIY approach of degrading the stump with home mixtures like Epsom salt and vinegar injected directly into it. This may help the stump decay faster, allowing homeowners to dig it out themselves, but it’s still a lengthy process. It usually takes months for a stump to start falling apart with such treatments, and in the meantime, it can be vulnerable to rot, insects, and other problems.