The process of cutting down a tree in sections isn’t as easy as it can seem to be. Only small trees can be liquidated without the help of specialists. The ways, describing how to do it on your own correctly, will be presented below in a separate paragraph.
What about large trees, in comparison with small ones, they bring much more nuisances to their owners.
Trees are the inalienable part of our planet’s flora, as they perform in the role of the lungs of the Earth. However, even trees can become redundant and dangerous to humans’ lives. There are some reasons that make people get rid of trees:
- In case when the tree is diseased;
- If the tree is seriously harmed, and subsequently, loses the ability to grow and to thrive;
- The tree that makes too much shade;
- The tree that is growing very close to the house, and thus, brings more problems than benefit
Ordinary people, who don’t know how to cut down large trees, can make it only worse. There is a high likelihood that in the process of removing a tree, they will get injured or inflict damage to their houses.
It is a professional who knows exactly, how to cut down a large tree, as he has dexterity in this deal, a great experience, and in addition, all necessary equipment that contributes to removing large trees without any risk for owners health and property safety.
When we speak about large trees, we should understand that in most cases the necessity of cutting down a tree in sections arises. It’s a perplexing and labor-consuming process that will be explained in detail a bit later.
In the following paragraph different kinds of tree defects, that make our ‘friends with leaves’ candidates to removal, will be defined.
In What Cases, a Tree Should Be Cut Down?
First of all, it’s necessary to determine the condition of a tree before cutting it, as it can turn out that your so-called ‘candidate to removal’ can continue living a long life without bringing problems.
It’s important to realize that not all tree defects are equal. If the deformities of your tree correspond to paragraphs, enumerated beneath, it means that you need to cut down your ‘friend with leaves’:
- 50% of the tree is damaged;
- Splits that spread over a quarter of the tree surface, including both the trunk and the branches;
- Trees that are tilted more than 15 degrees;
- There are roots lifted above the soil;
- The tree that isn’t damaged but is inherent in diseases, breaking and producing a lot of remains, messing the yard;
- Bad disposition, for instance, if the tree is growing on the precipitous surface, or infertile soil
Now, when you have already defined that your tree should be removed, it’s better to play it safe and to find out if you are allowed to cut down the tree.
Make Sure Whether It’s Legal To Cut Down The Tree In The Area Of Your Living
It’s believed that tree removal is a serious process that in some cases should be legalized by the council of the town. Thus, before cutting down the tree, inquire about order to figure out if you can liquidate the tree without any official permission.
If you find out that removing the tree is illegal because of some specific reasons, such as location in a sensitive environmental area, it will be necessary to appeal to the town council and to apply for special permission, giving the right to cut down the tree.
After checking out all the details and formalities, it’s high time to discover how to cut down small and large trees.
The Technology Of Removal Of Small Trees
What do we mean when we say a small tree? A tree can be defined as a small one if its diameter is less than 10 inches. You can deal without any complications with a tree of such size.
Anyway, nobody has canceled the safety rules yet. Even the removal of the small tree demands good and scrupulous preparation. It’s strongly recommended to wear a safety garment, that generally consists of:
- Special gloves, made of tough material;
- Rugged footwear;
- A hard hat;
- Protection for ears;
- Safety goggles
Don’t forget to pay attention to the choice of a chainsaw. The length of its bar should correspond to the diameter of a tree. It’s recommended to have a tree felling wedge in case if the tree doesn’t fall so easily.
Besides, the best option is if you have another person, who can observe the process of cutting the tree, in order to prevent a working person if something is going wrong.
Before starting to work, you need to decide in what direction the tree should fall, and subsequently, to adjust your position towards the tree. Another significant detail is the number of cuts that will fell the tree. If your tree has a diameter of fewer than 7 inches, one cut is sufficient.
If the tree is much thicker, then you will need to make three cuts. Initially, try to cut the quarter of the trunk in the direction the tree is supposed to fall.
After that make the next cut, this time 2 inches above the first one, and at the same time angling it downward 45 degrees in the way you formed a gusset. The ultimate cut should be made on the backside of the gusset and 2 inches higher than the gusset bottom. You need to cut till it’s only 10 % left between the cut made on the backside and the gusset.
Then don’t distract from the falling tree. It’s important to control the moment of its falling, as the tree can go down in the direction that you don’t expect. In this case, you must react immediately and clear the area. If the tree, on the contrary, isn’t falling, use the tree felling wedge.
The Technology Of Removal Of Large Trees
The process of cutting down a large tree is notorious for its high level of danger. That is why people, having no experience, mustn’t do it by themselves. To avoid grievous consequences it’s better to appeal to a professional tree removal service that has special tree cutting techniques.
When the arborist comes, first of all, he evaluates the height of the tree with the aim to define whether there is enough space in the yard to fell the tree at once. There are only two options for further actions: if the tree is quite small, it can be knocked down at once; if the tree is too tall, then the arborist applies the method of cutting a tree in sections.
Felling The Tree At Once
The specialist determines the side the tree should fall on. In most cases, the chosen side coincides with the direction the tree initially leans. Moreover, the arborist usually verifies if any defects can subsequently become a reason for ruin. Then the felling process starts.
Two people take part in this operation, one attaches a rope to the tree, while another is responsible for guiding the fall of the tree. Two cuts are made, one on the side the tree is supposed to fall and the other one on its backside.
Helpful Video: Detail Instruction of Cutting Down A Tree In Sections
Is there is a tree you want to cut down? Watch How to Use & Maintain a Chainsaw. Instruction on how to cut a tree of different sizes and video: 5 ways to save money on tree removal.
Cutting Down A Three In Sections
Here is the algorithm of cutting a tree in sections that every specialist usually follows:
- Cut the lower branches with the use of the chainsaw and remove them immediately from the work area so you could have a lot of space to continue your work.
- Estimate the height of the tree to determine the best direction for its felling.
- Lean a ladder against the tree in a proper position that will let you reach the necessary place.
- To play it safe, use a harness system, tied around the tree trunk. This construction will help you to climb the tree without being afraid to fall. However, it’s better not to risk and not to climb the upper branches, as they can break unexpectedly.
- Make a cut, composing seventy degrees and entering into 1/3 part of the trunk, on the side the tree will fall. After that make cut angling twenty degrees in the way that it coincides with the first cut at a right angle, forming a gusset. Make sure the gusset fell down. Then climb down from the tree.
- Readjust the ladder to the reverse side of the place, where you have already cut. Take the fallen gusset and climb up. Then dispose of it. Cut straight into the tree till the chainsaw goes through the gusset cut. Thus, the upper part of the tree will fall in the direction of the gusset cut.
- You should continue working in this way, moving lower and lower until there is only the last part left. This ultimate part can be cut without the use of the ladder.
When all the general work is over, it’s time to decide what to do with the remains of the tree. You can ask the invited team to turn the debris into something that will be useful in the future.
For example, the thickest parts of the tree might be used as firewood. The thin ones and branches as well, maybe chopped, and in the end, they may be turned into mulch. In case if you don’t need all these materials, it’s better not to toss them out, but to bring them to a special organic waste dump.
Even after such a long process, one thing is left. There is no tree in the yard anymore, except the little lower part, including roots, that still remains. It’s a tree stump that you can whether leave, whether remove.
If this stump is useless and only spoils the beauty of the yard, you can get rid of it with the use of a grinding machine by your own, or you have an option to ask the arborist to do it. If the stump is small enough, it’s also possible to scoop it out with a shovel.
To sum everything up, it’s necessary to emphasize one more time that the larger the tree is the greater risk its removal has. That is why you shouldn’t cut down large trees by yourself. Don’t hesitate to call specialists. They know better than whoever, how to do everything correctly.
Furthermore, they don’t forget to take into account all the defects the tree has, to exclude the possibility of making damage to the owner’s property.
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