Many times people need to remove trees from their homes and landscapes. Sometimes it becomes essential to remove a tree if it gets infected with pests or disease. Also, some people want to use the space for some other purpose, which requires the removal of a tree.
Cutting a tree may seem simple, but it involves many risks and complications. As there are many things around a tree, such as building, other trees, shrubs, and neighbor’s houses, it requires professional assistance to remove a tree.
There is a high risk of damage in the vicinity of a tree when you need to remove it from any space. It can fall on a building, structure, other trees, vehicles, or any other stuff in its vicinity. Therefore, landscapers need to take extreme care to remove a tree from their landscape. Here are some tips for cutting down trees safely from any area.
Observe the tree carefully
The first step in the removal of a tree is to observe it carefully. Check its main branches, stem, and the direction in which it leans. A tree falls mostly on the side on which it is leaning. Also, check the presence of any signs of infection or pest infestation. In case of an infection or disease, consult a professional arborist for chemical treatment of the tree before removing it.
Analyze its surroundings
Check the things around the tree, such as utility lines, other trees, neighbor’s houses, vehicles, or any other structure that can interfere when the tree falls after cutting. If it is possible to remove some things like vehicles, and other stuff, remove them.
Create an escape route
Identify a clear escape route that you can use to run when the tree is about to fall. Creating an escape route is important for the safety of persons cutting the tree. The escape route should be on the opposite side of the area on which the tree will fall.
Get a chainsaw
It is best to get a chainsaw to cut a tree as it will help you to work faster. If you don’t have a chainsaw, you don’t need to buy it to cut a single tree. Instead, borrow it for rent and use it for a day to remove your tree. There is another tool available in the market called chainsaw mill using for milling the tree.
Cut the branches
You don’t need to cut the branches every time while cutting a tree. If the tree has branches spread to a wide area, then you should cut the main branches first. Cutting the trunk directly can damage the nearby area. Therefore, it is better to cut the branches using a chainsaw that makes the trunk lighter and easy to remove. Moreover, removing the trunk with already cut branches will help you to make it fall in the required direction.
Create an open face notch
Start the chainsaw to check its working and operation keys before using it on a tree. Make an initial top cut near the base of the tree. Then, you need to make another cut across the top cut. These two cuts are made to create an open face notch. You should make the cuts on the side on which you want to make your tree fall.
Make the back cut
Now, after creating a notch, you need to make a cut on the opposite side of the notch. Use the chainsaw to make a cut on the opposite side and slightly above the notch. While making the cut, you should allow the chainsaw to cut, leaving at least one to two inches of wood. One should not saw entirely throughout the trunk as it will make the tree fall immediately.
Insert the wedge
One should never intersect the back cut, and the notch cut as doing so will make the tree fall immediately. Instead, leave at least 2 inches of wood between the notch and the back cut. Then insert a wedge into the back cut that will help you to direct the tree in the required direction. Inserting a wedge also enables you to adjust the falling tree if it leans in the wrong direction.
Run through the escape route
When the tree is about to fall, you need to escape to reach a safe area. Therefore, as you make the cut and the tree starts falling, you need to remove the chainsaw and run along the escape route. You need to choose the direction to escape carefully. The tree may fall in a different direction than you expected. Therefore, if the tree runs in the direction of the escape route, you need to run in the opposite direction to a safe spot.
Have someone watch you
It is best to have a friend watch you while you cut the tree. If there are two friends, one can help you cut the tree and let the other watch and tell you when the tree starts falling. You need to run through the right escape route as soon as the tree starts falling. A friend watching you cut the tree should warn you at the right time as soon as the tree begins to fall.
Final Words
These are some tips to cut down a tree safely from a landscape. People who are not confident to cut a tree themselves can hire professional services like tree removal Ryde to remove a tree. However, many people prefer removing a tree themselves to save the cost of getting it done by a professional. Following these tips can help tree owners to cut down the trees safely from their landscapes.