You see a big truck roll up with a crane attached, and your first thought is probably: “Isn’t that a little much?” After all, it’s just one tree, and suddenly, your yard looks like a construction site.
But the crane isn’t overkill. In fact, it’s the smartest, safest way to remove trees – especially those when space is tight, the tree is close to your home, or you want to avoid tearing up your property. If you’d rather not worry about lawn damage, long days of noisy work, or last-minute issues, a crane is the way to go.
Key Takeaways:
- Top Notch Tree uses a crane by choice – not necessity – because it delivers a better overall outcome for homeowners.
- Cranes reduce risk by eliminating the need for climbers and giving the crew complete control over each lift.
- Jobs that would normally take all day can often be completed in just a few hours with a crane.
- Your lawn, garden beds, and hardscape are far less likely to be damaged during a crane-assisted removal.
- Because Top Notch owns its own crane, you avoid rental delays, third-party costs, and scheduling headaches.
Do You Need a Crane to Remove a Tree?
Technically, no – a crane isn’t required to remove most trees. There are plenty of ways to do it with climbers, bucket trucks, and ground crews. But at Top Notch Tree, we choose to use our crane for most removals because it delivers a better outcome for our customers.
We’re not just looking for the easiest way to get the job done, we’re looking for the safest, cleanest, and most efficient way to do it right.
Cranes allow us to remove trees with more control, less risk, and far less disruption to your property. We can finish the job faster, avoid tearing up your lawn, and minimize noise and mess on site. That’s why crane-assisted removals have become our go-to approach – not because they’re required, but because they’re better.
5 Reasons Why Top Notch Tree Uses a Crane for Tree Removals
When it comes to removing large or difficult trees, experience matters – and so does the equipment. At Top Notch Tree, we use a crane not because it’s flashy or overkill, but because it allows us to complete tree removals with more safety, more precision, and less impact on your property.
Here’s why using a crane is often the best approach and why we’ve made it a core part of how we work.
1. Cranes Make Tree Removal Safer – for Everyone Involved
Tree removal is inherently risky work. When a tree is large, dead, leaning, or located near a home, it becomes exponentially more dangerous. Traditional methods like climbing or using a bucket truck require arborists to work from within the tree itself – exposing them to falling limbs, weak trunk sections, and unpredictable movement.
A crane eliminates many of those risks with:
- Precise Control: Each cut section is carefully rigged and lifted straight up and out of harm’s way.
- No Falling Limbs: There’s no free-fall or swinging involved – each piece is secured and removed intentionally.
- Fewer Crew Members in Harm’s Way: The climber is often replaced by a certified crane operator and a ground crew, which keeps people out of hazardous zones.
This level of control dramatically reduces the chance of injury or property damage.
2. Your Lawn and Landscaping Are Protected
With traditional tree removal, crews may need to drive equipment back and forth across your yard all day long – multiple times, in multiple directions. This not only increases wear and tear but also raises the risk of soil compaction, turf damage, and broken landscaping features.
Using a crane protects your lawn and landscape in three important ways:
- We keep equipment in one place. The crane is typically set up in a fixed location – usually on the street or driveway – so we’re not driving heavy machinery all over your yard.
- Tree sections are lifted, not dragged. Large limbs and trunk pieces are removed vertically and set down in a designated work zone, keeping your lawn and garden beds untouched.
- We protect any grass we do need to cross. If the crane has to be positioned on your lawn, we use composite ground protection mats to prevent ruts, compaction, and other damage.
The result is far less disruption to your yard and your garden beds – and fewer headaches after the job is done.
3. Crane Jobs Are Faster and More Efficient
Without a crane, large tree removals can take a full day or more. Climbers must cut and drop each branch individually, often with rope systems, and ground crews must clear debris as they go – step by step.
With a crane:
- Large sections of the tree can be removed in fewer lifts.
- Debris is dropped into a single staging area, making cleanup faster.
- Crews are more efficient, which lowers overall labor time and cost.
Many crane-assisted removals can be completed in a few hours instead of an entire day. That’s less noise, less disruption, and often a lower invoice at the end of the job.
4. Cranes Can Access Areas Traditional Equipment Can’t
Some properties make it nearly impossible to bring in a bucket truck or maneuver heavy equipment, such as:
- Narrow side yards
- Backyard trees with no road access
- Steep grades or retaining walls
- Trees growing over roofs, decks, or fences
In these cases, a crane is often the only safe and effective solution. The crane’s boom can extend over obstacles, like fencing, gardens, patios, or nearby buildings, and retrieve tree sections without touching anything else.
5. We Own Our Crane – So You Get Better Service Without the Extra Fees
Many tree companies have to rent a crane or bring in a subcontractor when the job calls for it. That adds complexity, cost, and often delays because now you’re relying on a third party to show up on time and do things right.
We don’t do that.
We own and operate our own crane. That means we’re in full control of the equipment, the schedule, and the quality of the work. There are no rental fees passed on to you, no outside coordination issues, and no surprises on the day of removal.
It’s faster. It’s more efficient. And it lets us give you a smoother, more reliable experience from start to finish.
Trust Top Notch Tree for Safe, Professional Crane-Assisted Tree Removals
At Top Notch Tree, we don’t cut corners—especially when it comes to safety, protecting your property, and delivering high-quality work. Owning and operating our own crane allows us to remove even the most difficult trees with precision, speed, and care.
It’s just one of the ways we do things differently.
If you’re looking for a team that brings the right equipment, the expertise to match, and a crew you can trust to do things right – call Top Notch Tree at 781-871-8008 today to schedule your tree removal.
