Tree felling is one of the most dangerous things you can embark on. It’s always recommended that you hire arborist services providers to help with the removal of the trees, but if you have to do the work yourself, you should ensure that you follow the right steps that will not only ensure that you easily remove the tree, but also protect you from the many risks. The steps you need to follow include:

Have a plan

When it comes to tree removal, preparation is everything. If you plan the felling and bring the necessary tree removal equipment, you will have a safer working session, and your post-felling work will be much easier.

First, determine whether the area you are removing the tree contains any major impediments, such as overhead lines, highways, or buildings.

If you know that a road runs through the forest or that a large number of people pass by on a daily basis, place warning signs there.

If you will be working with your contractor, you should involve the contractor in the plan. This felling strategy should include identifying areas of wind-throw or steep terrain and communicating other difficulties to their workforce before the harvest begins.

Be clear of the felling direction.

Continue by carefully observing the tree to determine which way to fall it. How do the branches look and grow? Also, consider the wind direction.

If you’re unsure about the tree’s natural fall direction, take a step back and use a plumbline to determine it.

You should clear the area surrounding the tree in the direction you plan to fall it. Also, clear around 45 degrees behind the tree in both directions to create your corridor of retreat.

Prune the trunk

When you’ve cleared the area, put up your warning signs and pick which way the tree will fall and where you’ll flee.

You should make sure you have adequate petrol in the tank for the upcoming mission.

You should then prune the tree trunk to remove branches or twigs that may interfere with sawing the felling cut. The safest technique to prune is from the top down, using a pulling chain (the underside of the guide bar).

Decide on the cutting technique.

When the trunk is twig-free up to shoulder height, it is ready to perform the felling cut. When doing this, remember two things: the hinge should be uniformly thick and of the proper size, and the felling wedge or breaking bar should be placed before the tree can pinch the guide bar.

The approach you employ for cutting the tree relies on its size, slope, and the size of your chainsaw bar. We’ve included information on the various ways here so you can decide which strategy is best for your specific situation.

Inspect the tree for diseases.

If you discover the timber is discolored and soft, or if the bottom part of the trunk appears bloated or unhealthy, proceed with caution. This indicates that the tree is afflicted with rot, which weakens the wood fibers.

When this happens, fall in the tree’s natural direction and, if you’re not sure, utilize a winch.

Rot infection normally subsides higher up in the tree, so one alternative could be to fell the tree with an extra-tall stump.

Choose the right tool.

When removing a tree, you might use a variety of felling equipment. The tool you use is dependent on the tree’s size. The tiniest trees rarely require felling tools. Hand force is sufficient.

The foot-breaking bar is excellent for thinning small trees. To fell the tree, insert the tool before finishing the felling cut, and stand with your entire weight on the lever arm.

The breaking bar is often telescopic, and you can store it in a holster on your logging belt.

You use it for tiny trees. To maximize the lifting force, insert the tool in the center of the felling cut at the far back before completing it. Lift with your legs, keeping your back straight.

The impact bar serves the same purpose as the breaking bar, but you can also use it as a hitting instrument when using falling wedges.

You should choose the ideal tool for your situation based on the size and conditions of the tree.

Fell the tree

Good falling technique is essential for safe, accurate, and consistent results. Fell all trees larger than 200mm with a scarf and back cut.

The degree of forward or back lean will influence how many wedges and/or pull ropes you need and how much power you need to draw the tree over.

To determine the height of the tree, hold a stick with your arm straight out in front of you, so that the stick length equals the distance between your eye and your hand, and hold the stick vertically, so that a right-angled triangle forms between your eye, hand, and the top of the stick.

You should point at the tree from a distance, making it appear as tall as the stick’s length. If the tree is leaning, measuring from the side will give you a more accurate measurement because the tree is not leaning toward or away from you.

The distance between you and the tree is now equal to its height.

Retreat and observe

You should finish the falling cut on the tree’s safe side and use your escape route as soon as it starts to fall.

Keep an eye out for falling material and keep a safe distance from the tree’s base to avoid a kickback, butt swing, or bounce.

Avoid going immediately behind the tree.

Parting shot

As mentioned, tree felling is a dangerous task, and you should only leave it to tree removal services Chevy Chase providers. If you are bold and would love to do it yourself, ensure that you follow the above-mentioned steps.

As a rule of thumb, always use the right tools and be extremely cautious about the size of the tree you are removing.