4 Steps For Cutting Down A Tree

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Do you have a tree in your yard that is dead and diseased and that now must be cut down? If so, it will help to know the following things before cutting it down.

The Tree's Growth Direction

The first thing to look at is how the tree is growing. If it is completely vertical, you have a lot of control over which direction the tree is going to fall with the cuts that you make. If the tree has a slant to it, there will not be many options for the direction it falls. This means that you may want to bring in a professional if the tree might fall on a house, utility line, or something else that you do not want the tree to land on. 

The Pie Cut

The pie cut is going to determine the direction that the tree is going to fall. It starts by making a horizontal cut near the base of the tree that is about a third of the tree's thickness. Then make an additional cut above the horizontal cut at a 45-degree angle to remove a pie-slice-shaped chunk from the tree's trunk. This is as far as you need to go with the first cut since you don't go directly through the trunk on your first pass.

The Back Cut

The next cut is about an inch above the base of the pie cut. You want the cut to be about halfway through the tree's trunk. Make sure not to go through the entire trunk of the tree though, since you don't want to cut through the tree with the chainsaw running.

The Tree Wedge

There is a special tree cutting tool, which is known as a tree wedge, that you will need to finish the job. This tool looks a bit like a door stopper, and you will put it into the back cut that you just made on the tree. You will then use a large mallet to force that tree wedge into the back cut, which will force the tree to lean toward the pie cut that you made earlier. Eventually, the tree will start to fall and the trunk will break off as it is falling. This ensures that the tree falls in the direction that you want and that your chainsaw is not active while the tree makes unexpected movements that can cause you to lose control of your power tool. 

To learn more, contact a tree removal service.

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