If you have been trying to cut a tree, you must have been advised to hire tree removal services providers instead of trying to remove the tree by yourself. Part of this advice is due to the complexity that comes with removing a tree.

Why is it not easy to cut down a tree? You must be wondering. Well, cutting down a tree comes with plenty of challenges that include:

Tree falling on you

This is one of the most common tree felling hazards, although most people do not consider it when chopping down a tree. If not done correctly, the tree may fall on you. This happens when you are cutting a large tree, and you are inexperienced. In such a case, there is an increased risk of the tree falling on you, especially if you don’t know the direction that the tree will fall.

Collapsing branches

Cutting down trees does not happen all at once. It’s done in stages. As a result, any remaining branches in the tree must be thoroughly evaluated to see whether or not they can support weight.

When you don’t remove enough branches, they can collapse and hurt you as you are cutting down the tree.

Risk of ruining power lines

When cutting down trees, be mindful of power lines. You do not want to damage the lines and cause a blackout. It’s even worse when you get electrocuted.

Flying debris

Tree limbs can fly off in any direction, depending on how you cut them. Flying debris can injure or destroy property. Make sure you understand what happens when you cut down trees. As a rule of thumb, you need to ensure that you are within safe distance from any property.

You also should ensure that there is no one close to you that the flying debris can hurt.

Fire hazards

Cutting down trees, particularly pine trees, near your home can cause them to become dry and brittle. Because of its dryness, it poses a fire risk when cut down. So, when chopping down pine trees, make sure to cut them near to the ground and let them sit for a few days before carting them away. The drying process should eliminate the risks connected with tree removal.

Toxic fumes

If you cut down trees near your home, they may generate hazardous vapors. To avoid these hazards, ensure that you have appropriate ventilation when cutting down trees. To prevent inhaling harmful vapors, you should wear the proper safety gear such as gas mask.

Trees are falling the wrong way.

This will happen when you make the wrong cut. As you can tell, this happens when you are inexperienced, and you don’t know the right cut to make for the tree to fall in your desired direction.

Risk of hurting yourself with the chainsaw

A chainsaw is a powerful piece of equipment that can be dangerous if handled incorrectly. Chainsaws pose a number of hazards, including chainsaw kickback, which can send the saw flying out of control or possibly injuring you, especially when you are inexperienced and don’t know what you are doing. It is best to hire professional tree services to handle power tools such as chainsaws.

Best practices when cutting down a tree

As mentioned, it’s always wise to let a professional help with cutting down a tree. Still, if you have to cut it down by yourself, there are a number of best practices you have to consider for you to be on the safe side. These best practices include:

Know your limits

There are numerous limits that you must consider before opting to take down a tree. Are you or the other members of your squad physically capable of cutting down a tree?

Are there any limitations to the knowledge or expertise required to plan and properly execute the process? Are there any weather-related limits, such as rain, wind, or cold temperatures, that could jeopardize the job?

Without taking these restrictions into account, the job might become considerably more complex, increasing the risk of a poor tree-cutting experience.

Work with the right equipment

Without the proper equipment, your tree-cutting efforts would be doomed from the start. Choosing the right chainsaw for the job is crucial to completing the operation quickly and efficiently.

For small to medium trees, a 16 to 18-inch bar is recommended, while bigger trees require a 20 to 24-inch bar. A pole chainsaw is also recommended for cutting branches that are difficult to reach. This also eliminates the need to climb a ladder while carrying a chainsaw, which can result in significant damage.

Other random equipment, such as pruning shears and a chopping hatchet, can be quite beneficial for this endeavor.

If this is your first time cutting down a tree, you should take time to research and find the ideal equipment for the task at hand.

Remove low-hanging branches

Depending on the tree structure, there may be low-hanging branches that prevent access to the main stem. To obtain access to the trunk, these low-hanging branches may need to be cleared.

Another reason to cut these low-hanging branches is to prevent the tree from tumbling on its side when it hits the ground. The tree could potentially slide into an unanticipated location, endangering you or your neighbor’s personal belongings. And you don’t want this.

Know where the tree will fall.

Cutting down a tree requires meticulous preparation, and one of the most crucial components of that strategy is determining where the tree will fall.

Large trees are extremely heavy, and it is critical to avoid any accidents, injuries, or property damage caused by errors in your tree-falling judgment.

When determining which direction to point the tree, the obvious structures to avoid are houses, automobiles, garages, and electricity lines. Another crucial aspect is the proximity to neighboring trees.

If not done appropriately, a falling tree can cause substantial damage or even uproot adjacent trees as it descends to the ground, so you should be ultra-cautions on how you go about it.

Parting shot

If you were wondering why tree cutting is too dangerous, now you know—it comes with plenty of hazards. If you aren’t ready to face the risks, highly consider hiring tree removal companies MD to help with the task.