Felling With A Chainsaw Is An Important Part Of The Tree Removal Process
As far as felling a tree is concerned, it refers to getting a tree to fall down by cutting it with a chain saw or a handsaw. However, felling a tree using a hand saw or chainsaw takes a lot of planning in, Marietta Tree Removal and it should be well thought through before starting.
Don’t ever try this as a homeowner, it is important that you have an experienced tree professional operate a chainsaw.
Preparation for Cutting down the Tree In Marietta, Georgia
The most important part of removing a tree in Marietta is safety. So, when you are cutting down a tree, think of the safety first and do everything to ensure that no accidents occur when the tree falls down. Take a close look at the location of the tree and the nearby objects.
The various nearby objects such as fences, power lines, barns, houses as well as various other structures can get heavily damaged due to falling limbs or trees.
Similarly, place a warning sign in case there are roads within the fall zone. If you do not have any experience in cutting down trees and there are some objects nearby the tree, you should contact our tree removal pros to help you with the felling.
In addition to the tree that needs to be cut down, you also need to pay special attention to other trees. Keep in mind that a tree fall is likely to have a domino effect on other nearby trees that may be weakened by rot or are already leaning.
Even if you are of the opinion that the tree you are going to cut down is not going to strike any other object, other tree hit by the tree that you are going to cut down may fall in a way that you did not expect and therefore, it is important that you imagine all sorts of scenarios before starting.
Tree Removal Requires Percise Direction To A Drop Zone
Once you’ve taken a close look at the surrounding objects, take a close look at the tree itself to find out the proper direction in which to fell the tree.
If it is already leaning in a particular direction, it is always better to fell it in that direction as long as there are no other objects within that fall zone. However, if the fall zone is full of other objects, you should call for an experienced tree service to help you in cutting down the tree in a professional and safe manner.
The direction of felling can also be affected by the wind speed. In addition to the cutting down tree, you should also consider the work in getting rid of the tree once you cut it down. Take into account the ease or difficulty of accessing the area where the tree is going to fall down.
Clearing The Area Prior To Tree Removal
All the undergrowth around the tree needs to be cleared before beginning the process of cutting down the tree. Clear Kudzu and get rid of all the fallen leaves, branches as well as any other obstacles around the tree.
In simple terms, you should be able to walk away from the tree in any direction and at any angle without stepping over anything or having to do anything.
Clearing Buttress Roots and Tree Limbs
If there is buttress or small branches growing on the lower part of the tree trunk, you should cut them down with the help of the chainsaw. Use a pulling chain for clearing limbs or tree branches.
Start cutting from the top and make use of a downward stroke on the edge of the chainsaw to clear the small branches. The safe way to cut down limbs is to cut it at a level of up to your shoulders. Cutting limbs that are above the shoulders is not safe when you are using a chainsaw.
Felling a Tree in the Right Direction
As far as deciding the direction in which the tree is going to fall is concerned, it depends on the directional notch. Directional notch refers to the first series of cuts that you are going to make when felling a tree. There are a number of ways for making directional notch.
The section below describes an open directional notch. This directional notch is responsible for deciding the direction in which the tree is going to fall. Here is a step-by-step process for making an open directional notch with the help of a chainsaw in a small to medium-sized tree:
The first step is to find out the exact direction for the tree to fall. Make use of a landmark in the surroundings as a guide and the sights on the top of the chainsaw should be used to line up the angle for the directional notch you are going to cut.
Start making a top cut into the tree trunk at an angle of around 60 degrees and take your chainsaw to a depth of around 25% of the diameter of the tree.
Once you have completed the top cut, it is now time to make a horizontal undercut meeting the top cut. They should create a notch on the side where you are trying to fell the tree.
It is important to make sure that there are no animals or people in the tree felling zone as it may lead to serious injuries. The tree removal felling zone is at least two times the tree length that you are going to cut.
Now, you need to make a horizontal cut that is a few inches above the level of the undercut but on the opposing side of the trunk of the tree. Keep going until you are just a few inches away from the directional notch. This cut combined with the directional notch will create a hinge that will allow the tree to fall in controlled manner. Ideally, the width of this hinge should be around 10% of the tree trunk diameter.
Now, retreat carefully and keep a watch on the falling three. Do not take your eyes away from the falling tree when you move away in a calm manner. It is important that you try to get away from the falling tree at an angle of 90 degrees. This will not only keep you away from the felling zone of the tree but also from the opposing side where the stump is separating from the trunk.
Cutting down Bigger Trees
As far as the technique for cutting down trees with the help of a chainsaw is concerned, it depends on the size of the tree trunk. For instance, you will need to make a plunge cut when you are trying to cut down a tree with a diameter bigger than the length of the chainsaw bar.
In addition to the chainsaw, you will also need a few felling wedges as well as a breaking bar on hand. These tools will ensure that the tree falls only in the intended direction and in a controlled manner. These tools will also help you in getting the chainsaw un-stuck and prevent the tree from pinching chainsaw blade when you are cutting the trunk.
The first step is to decide the direction in which the tree is going to fall. Make use of the sights on the top of the chainsaw for lining of the angle of the directional notch and use a landmark from the surroundings for guide.
Due to the bigger size of the tree, the directional notch will need to be cut from two sides. As mentioned above, you will need to make the top cut at an angle of around 60 degrees. In this case also, you will need to saw to a depth of around 25% of the diameter of the tree. Similarly, complete the directional notch by moving to the other side of the tree and ensure that it lines up as closely as possible.
Once the top cut has been made, it is time to make the horizontal undercut. Wn this case, you will need to make the horizontal undercut on both sides of the tree as it is too wide. The two should be in a line so that it creates one straight undercut. This whole process should now leave you with the directional notch on the side of the tree in which it is going to fall.
You need to make sure that there are no animals or people in the safety radius of the felling zone. The tree felling zone is at least two times the tree length that you are cutting down.
Now you need to make a plunge cut. Insert the chainsaw bar into the trunk of the tree behind where the hinge needs to be. Do it carefully and try to avoid kick back. The upper part of the chainsaw bar should not be allowed to come in contact with the tree.
Once the tip of the chainsaw has been inserted into the trunk of the tree, it should be turned parallel with the directional notch. Now, you should apply pressure to the chainsaw bar in the direction of the tree.
Start sawing away from the hinge for around the width of the chainsaw bar. This will keep your chainsaw away from the hinge when it is turned around.
Now carefully saw around the trunk. Once you have carefully sawed through the tree trunk, you should insert a felling wedge to ensure that the weight of the tree does not pinch the chainsaw that may cause it to get stuck in the tree.
In case the chainsaw bar does get stuck in the trunk during tree removal, it is important that you do not pull out the chainsaw. You need to stop the engine of the chainsaw and make use of a wedge or a breaking bar to open the trunk until the chainsaw can be pulled out easily.
Keep sawing into your chainsaw bar until it becomes parallel to the directional notch that you have cut on the other side of the tree.
The felling wedge may need to be hammered into the place to start the tree fall. You may also need multiple wedges. Make use of a breaker bar to start the felling.
As is the case with cutting the small tree, you need to watch carefully and start retreating when the tree starts to fall down. Do not take your eyes away from the falling tree when you move away from it. You should try to move away from the tree at an angle of 90 degrees as it will keep you away from the felling zone of the tree and also the opposing side of the tree where the stump is getting separated from the trunk.
Dead or Rooted Trees
You will need to use extra caution when you are cutting down dead or rooted tree. In case you are a beginner, it is recommended to get help from an experienced user or a Marietta tree removal service to ensure that the tree is cut down in a safe manner. If the tree feels soft, seems abnormally in other ways or the trunk looks discolored, there is a possibility that it is rotten on the inside. A much larger hinge is required for felling down such rotten trees in a safe manner as these are inherently unstable.
Felling a Lodged Tree
If a tree gets stuck or lodged in another tree when it falls down, it is important that you do not leave the tree. You should contact SCS Trees Immediatley. In case you need to leave to get help, you should rope off the area to ensure that the passers-by remain aware of the danger.
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