Felling a tree is one of the heaviest tasks in gardening. Therefore, it is important to be very careful. Here is how you can safely fell a tree.
Why fell a tree?
There are several reasons that may lead you to fell a tree. Among others, there is increasing insecurity and disease. Regarding insecurity, you may need to fell your tree in case of a storm or strong winds. This can pose a dangerous situation for the neighborhood, road users, or even your home. If pruning is no longer sufficient, you will simply need to fell the tree.
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Diseases can also be the basis for tree felling. Your tree may be infected with cankers, fungi, or pests that could be transmitted to its peers. Moreover, diseases can cause the tree to collapse on itself. It should then be felled without delay. In any case, you can use the wood residues produced by the trunk of the tree to be felled by passing them through a wood chipper. If you do not have this chipper, you can consult a comparison of the best wood chippers in 2021 online to acquire one.
Consider essential precautions for felling a tree
To fell a tree, it must be cut flush with its trunk. To achieve this, some precautions must be taken. You will need to decide where you want your tree to fall. It is important to precisely determine the direction of the fall. Additionally, you must establish a perimeter that ensures the safety of the surrounding area and neighboring houses. You can mark this perimeter with stakes connected by rope or bright-colored plastic tape.
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What is the ideal time to fell a tree?
The best time to fell your tree is in the autumn. Some trees, such as deciduous trees, oak, or mulberry, for example, lose their leaves during this time. Additionally, resin is less abundant in conifers like firs and pines. While it is recommended to fell a tree during this season, it is also important to be wary of certain weather conditions.
You should not fell a tree in strong winds or on a rainy day. A gust can carry a branch or even the trunk in a direction opposite to what you desire and cause an accident. Rain, on the other hand, will make the trunk and the ground slippery, which could also lead to an accident.
Felling a tree without danger
To safely fell a tree, you must first make a notch. This notch will determine the direction of the tree’s fall. A first saw cut is made horizontally on the trunk at thirty centimeters from the ground. Then, a second saw cut is made at an angle of 30 to 45° relative to the first. The whole will result in an overall notch that is between 1/3 and 1/5 of the diameter of the tree.
Next, you can proceed with the felling by making a cut on the trunk, opposite the felling notch, a little higher than the first saw cut. A hinge will form between the felling notch and the cut. You will only need to saw on the side opposite to the tree’s fall, and you’re done.