Look for a tree crane service that owns its cranes, trains its own operators, plans every lift before the crew arrives and protects the yard around the tree. That is the short answer Zach Miller, owner and CEO of Central Tree Pros, and operations manager Jack Wadden gave on Episode 5 of The Sawdust Sessions. The reason is simple: with a tree, as Miller put it, “you do not know what you have on that crane until it is cut.”
Central Tree Pros is a tree service based in Des Moines that handles crane tree removal across the metro, including Ankeny, Urbandale and West Des Moines.
When Does a Tree Need a Crane?
A tree needs a crane when it is split or damaged, hangs over a structure, or stands where no other equipment can reach it. Miller explains that rigging off a damaged tree, or putting climbers in it, puts the crew in a dangerous work zone, so bringing in a crane is the safer choice.
Location matters as much as size. If a backyard is blocked in by landscaping, a pool, a fence or a building, the crane can set up outside and lift the pieces out. “We can just set up around the outside of the fence and reach right over into your backyard,” Wadden said. For the method step by step, see how crane-assisted tree removal works.
Which Tree Companies Have Cranes for Difficult Tree Removals?
Ask each company directly, because many tree services rent a crane only when a job calls for one. Central Tree Pros owns its cranes outright, and Miller estimates the crew brings one in on at least 98% of its removals, since it pays no rental fee and does not have to line up someone else’s crane. Wadden adds that there is no set price point that decides when the crane comes.
The company also subcontracts its cranes to other firms, but, in Miller’s words, “we do not just turn the crane loose,” because the work takes training and safety planning. On crane removals it uses remote-controlled grapple saws, so most of the time the crew’s feet stay on the ground, and an operator can stand about fifty feet from the tree.
When you compare companies, ask whether the crane is owned or rented, who operates it, and whether that operator works for the company doing your removal.
What Training Should a Tree Crane Operator Have?
An operator should be trained on the machine itself, on safe setup and on how tree loads behave before running a crane on a removal. Miller says every Central Tree Pros operator goes through a training course covering setup, cribbing the crane properly, getting the stabilizers out in awkward spots and preloading the boom.
Tree work is harder than lifting building materials, because the weight is unknown until the cut is made. “Everything except trees starts on the ground when you start doing crane work,” Wadden said. “Trees start in the air.” Miller calls each lift “an educated guess based on years of experience.”
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration identifies falling objects, elevated work and equipment-related hazards among the major risks in tree care and removal, so ask each company what training its operators complete.
What Happens on the Day of a Crane Removal?
A crane removal starts at the shop, with safety meetings, a check that the crane is running right and a walk-through so every crew member knows their role. On site, Wadden says, the crew decides how to get into the yard, where to set up the crane and whether a bucket truck is needed to set straps, and then the lifts begin.
Before you hire, you can look up certified arborists in the International Society of Arboriculture directory, and confirm insurance coverage, site protection and what cleanup the estimate includes.
How Much Faster Is a Crane on a Big Removal?
On large trees, a crane can turn days of work into hours. Miller’s example is two cottonwoods at a trailer park, one on each side of a home, each at least 150 feet tall and about eight feet around.
Several companies bid the job, and Central Tree Pros came in, as Miller put it, “right in the middle,” but it was the only bid that brought cranes. The crew set up both of its cranes and finished in about six hours, where the other plans called for three or four days of climbing and roping the trees down.
“You are not listening to guys run chainsaws for four days,” Wadden said. To see what drives the price of a job like this, read our guide to crane tree removal cost.
Is the Lowest Bid the Best Value for Crane Work?
Not always, because the bid is only part of what a removal costs. A cheaper plan that takes days, drags debris across the lawn or damages a fence can cost more once the repairs are counted. “When we leave, we try to leave the yards better than we found them,” Miller said.
The City of Portland’s arborist hiring guidance recommends checking insurance, references and professional qualifications before you choose a tree care provider, and the same checks apply to crane work.
Watch the Full Episode on YouTube
Watch the full episode of The Sawdust Sessions on YouTube to hear Zach Miller and Jack Wadden explain when a crane comes out, how they train operators and how two cranes finished a 150-foot cottonwood job in one afternoon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I look for when hiring a tree crane service?
Look for a company that owns its cranes, trains its own operators, plans each lift and protects your yard. Central Tree Pros in Des Moines owns its cranes and uses them on at least 98% of its removals across the metro, including Ankeny, Urbandale and West Des Moines.
When is a crane necessary for tree removal?
A crane is the safer choice when a tree is split or damaged, hangs over a house or another structure, or stands in a backyard that other equipment cannot reach.
Is crane-assisted tree removal safer?
It can be, because fewer workers climb the tree, lifted sections stay under control, and with remote-controlled grapple saws most of the crew stays on the ground.
Does crane-assisted removal cost more?
Not necessarily. A company that owns its cranes pays no rental fee, and a faster job can mean fewer crew hours and less yard repair.
How long does crane-assisted tree removal take?
It depends on the job. Central Tree Pros removed two cottonwoods about 150 feet tall in about six hours with two cranes, where other bids planned three or four days.
What training should crane operators have?
Training on the machine, on safe setup, cribbing and stabilizers, and on handling tree loads whose weight is unknown until the cut.
Can crane removal protect my landscaping?
Yes. A crane can lift sections over landscaping, pools and fences and set them down in one spot, so less equipment drives across the yard.
To have a crew look at a tree that may need a crane, request an estimate from Central Tree Pros.