Post tree removal

The tree removal was completed today.
Our whole plan to remove the trees was for several reasons.
1) to make the pool more usable - the trees blocked sunlight from hitting the pool for all but 1-2 hours of the day. So our very expensive pool (cleaning charges, new equipment twice in last two years, extra chemicals to treat excess leaves in the pool and more) was previously only usable in July and August without freezing within five minutes. Now we hope to be able to use it throughout the summer and for much longer time periods.
2) to keep the pool cleaner and maybe even reduce pool expenses
3) to make the garden more usable. A huge chunk of our garden was just buried under the leaf litter that was produced by these trees. The sheer volume was just impossible to keep up with so we had to have twice yearly big clean outs that of course cost money and time. The trees were also randomly scattered with a meandering path and no clear space to actually be usable for any real play or fun areas.
4) to reduce visiting wildlife. I love birds. I love animals. I love butterflies and pretty insects. I don't love raccoons who used to hang out in the trees watching my small daughter playing. I don't really love the squirrels who just came to make a mess with their food and deposits. I don't love the coyotes who regularly marked the trees. I don't love the spiders and other not so pleasant insects who made their homes in the trees or tree trunks.


I do appreciate that having trees removed is very distressing to some people and it does not necessarily sound very green or earth friendly. Please believe me that we put a lot of thought into this process but believe it is the best decision (albeit an expensive one).

So please see the results of our tree removal.
13 hours of work, 9 men, 1 very big crane, 1 90 foot for tree, 1 80+ foot ficus tree plus 13 other trees, 2 stump grinders, many bottles of water and juice and soda, soaring temperatures of over 90 degrees Fahrenheit and now a huge clear space for us to design anything we want - an expanded fruit garden, some nice bushes and flowers, a play area for our 4 year old, maybe a nice reading nook or pagoda or even a little swing seat. The plans are currently wondrous and wide ranging. Watch this space!

Oh and by the way - the squirrels told me what they thought of it all by eating all our zucchini flowers and strawberries! Also - there were no active homes for birds or squirrels in the trees removed - the squirrels live next door and the birds nests were all empty long ago. The squirrels just liked using the trees to get from the fence to our pool for a drink - I have no idea what chlorine does to squirrels but they seem ok with it!