Trees are essential to our survival as a species. Without trees, our planet would be a completely different place. Trees are also a source of income for many people around the world. In fact, it is estimated that the timber industry in the UK generates £4.5 billion per year.
However, there are many reasons why trees are being cut down—and one of the most important ones is that they are a hazard to drivers. A recent study by the University of Warwick found that trees are responsible for a huge amount of accidents on Britain’s roads. It has been estimated that trees cause more than 1,000 deaths every year in the UK alone.
How to Cut Down a Tree Safely in 10 Steps
Many people have a problem with cutting down trees. They don’t know how to do it properly and end up with a dead tree that they can’t sell. In this post, I’m going to share 10 effective expert tree felling techniques on how to cut down a tree and make it fall where you want.
Wear the Right Safety Gear
If you are planning to cut down a tree, then you need to be prepared and aware of the dangers. For instance, when you are using a chainsaw, you need to wear a hat, gloves, eye protection, boots, safety goggles, a jacket, and a first aid kit. All these items will help you to protect yourself from cuts and burns.
For instance, you should wear a full-face helmet when cutting down a tree. You need to be very careful when using your chainsaw because they are very dangerous. They can easily cut through your fingers, your hands, and your arms. You can also injure your eyes and face if you are careless while cutting down a tree.
Buy Felling Wedges
To protect yourself when you are cutting down trees, you can use a felling wedge. This is a piece of plastic that will keep the chain from being pinched when you are cutting down a tree. They are sold at most outdoor power equipment stores.
When you’re cutting down a tree, you must be careful so that you don’t get hurt. If you are careless, you could easily get injured. You can use these plastic wedges to protect yourself from getting hurt.
Estimate the Felling Zone: How to fell a tree in the direction you want
When you are planning on felling a tree, you need to know where the tree will fall when you cut it down. You can do this by estimating the “Felling Zone.” The Felling Zone is an imaginary line that you can create around the tree.
This line represents the farthest point of the tree’s fall. You can estimate this zone by looking at how much the tree is leaning towards one side or the other. The further away the tree is leaning to one side, the farther the tree will fall.
This is how to fell a tree in the direction you want: Hold an ax handle at arm’s length, close one eye, and back away from or move toward the tree until the top of the ax is even with the treetop and the chain of the ax is pointing in the direction you want to fell the tree. This is the safest way to fell into a tree. If you do it this way, your ax won’t get stuck in the tree or twist the tree around and tear it apart.
Clear a Cutting Zone
Even when you’re sure which way the tree is going to fall, you’re still not ready to fell it. Cut away any brush around the trunk and clear two escape routes on the “non-falling” side of the tree. They should be about 45 degrees away from each other in opposite directions. The last thing you want is to trip while walking away from a falling tree.
Size Up the Tree
Start by studying the tree. Don’t cut it down if you see:
A large limb that is dead or dying (a dying limb can break off at any time, even while you’re cutting).
A branch that has been broken off (don’t cut through the broken part, because it will fall away) or is bent out of shape.
A thick branch, trunk, or root that’s too wide to fit in the opening of your saw.
A branch that’s growing straight into another branch or trunk (not many trees have these, but they are there if you look for them).
A weak trunk that looks as though it might collapse or cave in at any moment
An overgrown tree with a thicket of low-growing undergrowth.
Anatomy of a Proper Notch
To begin, you need to measure the diameter of the tree. It is best to use a tape measure to do this. You need to figure out the distance from the ground to the trunk. Make sure to measure at the widest part of the trunk.
This is the most important part because it is what determines the size of the notch you’re making. If you make the notch too big, you will have trouble lifting the trunk out of the ground. The notch should be just deep enough to hold the tree up by its base. The idea is to have the notch deep enough to keep the trunk from slipping down the side of the hole. You can measure the depth of the notch by cutting a straight line across the hole.
Plan the Notch
Plan the notch. Cut the notch in the “fall” side of the tree. The notch should be just deep enough to hold the tree up by its base.
The idea is to have the notch deep enough to keep the trunk from slipping down the side of the hole. You can measure the depth of the notch by cutting a straight line across the hole.
If the notch has a rough edge, the bark will split and the tree will slip out of the notch. Use your saw to cut the notch. After that, mark the center with a straight edge.
Cut the Notch
Marking the notch will allow you to plan the notch without worrying about how deep the notch needs to be. If the notch is too shallow, the tree may slide into the notch. You can cut through the bark with ease. You will need to make sure that the notch is large enough to support the tree and will prevent it from falling.
The notch should be at least 1 inch deep. Also, make sure that the notch is wide enough to prevent the tree from sliding down the side. If it’s too narrow, the tree may slip down. Make sure that you use a good-quality saw to cut the notch. It should have a strong blade. Make sure that the chain is tight and that the teeth are sharp.
Use Wedges on Big Trees
To start the process, take a very sharp-edged hatchet (or axe) and make an initial mark near the base of the tree, at least 18 inches down from the top. Next, take another, smaller, sharp hatchet and carefully split the notch. It will be difficult to make the first crack, so work slowly and use one hand for each blow. Take care not to hit the tree trunk; if you do, it may not break cleanly. The first crack may be wide or narrow. When you’ve made the first crack, place an ax wedge into it. Keep hitting the wedge until it breaks out of the notch. A few blows will usually do the job.
Make the Felling Cut
You should use a sawyer’s knife to cut the felling cut. This is the last cut you should make after you split the notch. After making the felling cut, you can start chopping away. When you make the cut, don’t make a big mess. The last cut should be short, but it should be very deep.
You should make sure that the ax blade is facing away from you as you cut. If the blade is facing toward you, you may lose control and chop yourself. This is why you must keep the handle of the ax away from you. To make sure you know how to use the tool safely, you should watch how other lumberjacks do it.
