NewsPinellas County

Actions

Tree trimmers say don't wait until last minute for service

Posted at 8:57 PM, Apr 28, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-28 20:57:29-04

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Fortunately cutting down a tree, is a lot like riding a bike, for Yutzy Tree Service. You don’t forget how it’s done.

“Once people started panicking because of the virus they started being extra careful with the services they were going to be using so we did notice a downturn in calls to our office,” said owner Karl Yutzy.

With hurricane season a month away, this is usually a busy time of year for Yutzy. He’s concerned that if too many people put off tree removal, there’s not going to be enough chain saws to go around later this summer.

“Now is the time of year to be addressing that because once hurricane season starts we do typically get very busy and if there is an emergency at that time you don’t want to be dealing with these types of things last minute,” said Yutzy.

On Monday, his team removed a 40-foot Laurel Oak in St. Pete. The tree raised several red flags. If action wasn’t taken it could have posed a real problem.

“It could fall near the house or near the power lines, and either situation you don’t want to happen during a storm,” said Yutzy.

For every dead tree that’s removed, there is another one. Nearby, that will continue to sit and rot. Yutzy said there is no reason why the quarantine should prevent property owners from making the call.

“Our estimators can come out and not have any contact with the client, many times we come out and take a look at the property without a client even being home,” said Yutzy. “Don’t wait until after June 1 when everybody else is calling.”

For more information go to yutzytreeservice.com.