 But sometimes it is necessary to bring a tree down,
and that can present great challenges. This is one job most often
best left to professionals. If you are considering a D.I.Y. job on a
tree, first consider your skill level, necessary equipment, tree
size, and safety.
The video
How to cut down a tree - Lowe's Home Improvement discusses
safe methods for cutting down small trees. Lowe's advises
knowing how to operate the chainsaw, following all safety
recommendations. They recommend calling a professional for larger
trees, trees near a structure, trees you want to drop away from
where they lean, or "any tree you feel uncomfortable tackling."
This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook and chainsaw safety
expert Tim Ard demonstrate dropping and bucking a dead tree in “How
to Cut Down a Tree Safely - This Old House.” Cook and
Ard show how they safely take down a tree, stressing the importance
of looking for obstacles.
Before starting, make sure there are no structures, power lines,
people, vehicles or pets close. To be safe, be aware of the
proximity of garages, landscaping, patios, driveways, and even other
trees. People who have been drinking alcoholic beverages should not
operate a chainsaw or even assist taking down a tree.
Felling a tree close to a building or house often requires special
techniques so the tree does not cause damage by falling the wrong
way.
In close quarters, it is definitely best to call a professional.
When felling a tree, the first thing to do is check to see if limbs
are going to get hung up in another tree, power lines or any other
obstruction. Always make sure there is an escape route.
Next, pick the direction you want the tree to fall, picking an
escape path opposite of that direction. Clear the area around the
tree, making sure there are no loose branches overhead.
Cut one, two, three; and slow fall "timber!"
To determine the direction to fell the tree, look outward in the
direction you would like it to fall, assess that line of direction
for hazards. Next, determine if there is a lean to the tree by
looking side-to-side of the tree and then move around it 90 degrees
and do the same thing.
The front cut, the direction the tree will be falling into, is made
first with two part-of-the-way-through-the-tree cuts. Make a top cut
into the trunk of the tree at about a 60 degree angle, sawing to a
depth of about 20 – 25 percent of the tree's diameter. Make a
horizontal undercut that meets the top cut. You should now have a
wedge cut out of the side of the tree facing the felling direction.
Going to the other side of the tree, a back cut is made that is
about one inch higher than where the front cuts met. That one inch
of wood left to make a "hinge" controls how the tree falls.
Finish the cut, but do not cut more in the area of the wedge or cut
all the way through. Leave about ten percent of the width as a
"hinge" and move away as the tree falls.
When the tree starts to fall, the plan is to stand back at least 15
to 20 feet to avoid falling debris.
Among videos showing best methods for cutting down
trees, there are many showing examples of what not to do and what
could happen. You will learn valuable lessons about better methods
when you watch, “NEVER
do this when cutting down a tree!”
[to top of second column] |
 Simeon and his brother Tim, an arborist and
lumberjack, demonstrate one of the biggest mistakes people make when
cutting down trees.
Simeon says he has seen "videos where, luckily, no one got hurt but
it very easily could have gone the other way. In this video they
show you a very dangerous mistake that could cause a tree to fall
backwards, sideways or anywhere you don't want it to go."
Procedures after the tree has fallen
Because many injuries and accidents occur during clean up, in the
“This Old House” video Cook and Ard talk about often overlooked
steps, particularly in the clean up process cutting the tree into
moveable pieces.
Once the tree has fallen, remove branches by starting at the base
and cutting upward or downward. For large branches, work towards the
trunk.
Cut a third of the way through the side of the trunk that might
compress, then cut from the opposite side.
Logs on the ground should be cut through most of the way and then
turned to finish. Never allow the chainsaw to cut into the ground
(it will turn a sharp chainsaw dull in a second). The logs should be
cut into manageable pieces and stacked away from the work area.
Don’t leave logs or debris lying that you can trip over.
With a lot of weight of the trunk off the now fallen tree, Ard makes
cuts and inserts wedges to reduce pressure and keep the log from
pinching the saw as he cuts all the way through. When the trunk's
diameter is too small for a wedge, Ard suggests cutting until the
piece just falls away.
They suggest not working alone because you never know when something
unforeseen might happen. Keep a cellphone handy for calls to 911.
Safe and careful work is important for making tree work successful.
Youtube is full of videos to learn from, but remember that for
challenging jobs, especially those that might damage your home, cost
you a limb or your life, you should call a professional.
[Angela Reiners]
Professional Tree Service
resources:
Reiners Tree & Lumber Milling Service
Lee Reiners
2456 475th Ave., Emden
Ph. 309-830-7380
Baker and Son Tree Service
Stephan & Teri Baker of Lincoln
Ph. 217-871-8704 (Teri)
|
