CUTTING UP A TREE - HOW TO DO IT EFFECTIVELY?



Living in a house with a garden, there is a high probability that we will face the challenge of cutting trees. It is not an easy task, and in many cases it is fraught with high risk. When is the best time to go about it and what tools to use? How to do it safely?

There are many reasons why we want to cut down a tree. Starting with the diseases that attacked the plant and it makes no sense to keep it in the garden any longer. Such a tree will not look good and may pose a threat to residents and buildings. Also purely functional issues, such as the construction of a gazebo, pavement or a new fence, may encourage us to cut them.

When is the best?
Not everyone is aware that the tree behaves differently in every season of the year and it is not just about shedding leaves. The best time for felling is in the fall and winter, when the trees go into a state of dormancy. First of all, we do not have the problem of leaves that have already fallen or are dry, thanks to which they are lighter, have a smaller volume, so they will cause us less problems. Moreover, during this period, the sap ceases to circulate inside the trees, which significantly reduces the weight of the wood. It will be easier for us not only to cut down, but also to clean up. Dry wood will be of higher quality and can be useful, for example, for firewood.

Where to start?
First of all, we cannot apply the same methods to every tree. The main role is played by the height and circumference of the tree, as well as the distance from other building elements - house, fence, etc. If the tree is large, large trunk and is located in a place that may pose a threat, it will be safer to turn to a professional company providing this type of service. If we decide to take the whole project into our own hands, we should start with preparing the necessary equipment. When felling a tree, you should have a chainsaw or an ax, a helmet (preferably also protecting your face), a rope, overalls or a solid jacket and trousers, work shoes and gloves. If we use a chainsaw, ear protectors will certainly be useful.

We're cutting a tree
Let us start the whole undertaking by cutting down the lowest branches, most easily accessible from the ground. Removing them will make it easier for us to fight the trunk later. We should not deal with the branches above the level of the head. Also, scrape off as much bark as possible at the site of the cut. The outer layer collects a lot of impurities that can blunt the chain. The direction the tree will fall is very important. The slope of the tree and the surrounding objects will be important here. Failure to do so may result in someone getting hurt or causing us to incur additional costs. At this point, a rope will come in handy and must be tied to the highest available point on the tree.

Start cutting with a wedge with an angle of about 40 degrees, the depth of which should reach 1/3 of the trunk thickness. The wedge should be on the same side where you plan to fall the tree. On the other hand, we make a straight incision, preferably 2-3 cm below the bottom plane of our wedge. Insert the previously prepared wedge from the opposite side into the incision opening. Thanks to this procedure, we increase control over the direction of the fall of the tree. At this point, hit the wedge until the tree breaks and starts to fall over. This is the key and most dangerous moment. We must make sure that no other people are standing nearby. Hearing the characteristic crackle ourselves, we should move away to a distance of at least 5 meters. It would be nice to have a second person to help you pull you in the right direction when you fall. We can never be 100% sure where the tree will fly.

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