Tree Felling Techniques

Tree Felling is the process of cutting down and removing a standing tree. Usually, this is done to remove trees that are dead or damaged or to reduce the risk of fire or storm damage to structures and people. The process can be performed manually using hand tools or by machine. In some cases, large trees may need to be felled using a crane or other mechanical means. In addition to reducing fire and storm hazards, felling can also provide valuable timber and other forest products that can be used for various purposes. However, indiscriminate Tree Felling can have negative environmental impacts including soil erosion and habitat loss.

The most common method of removing a tree is to fell it, which involves making angled cuts into the trunk of the tree to create a notch that acts as a hinge and encourages the tree to fall in the desired direction. Using proper felling techniques is essential to avoid property damage and serious injury or death.

Prior to starting the felling process, the sawyer should thoroughly assess the condition of the tree. This should include scanning for loose limbs, cracks, hollow spots and rotted areas. It is also important to note the position of nearby trees and to ensure that the tree being cut can safely reach the ground without causing a domino effect.

An experienced logger can often gauge where a tree will fall by observing the position of the base of the tree, how far up its branches extend and whether or not it is wedged into other trees. It is also important to determine the direction of a tree’s lean and the amount of weight it is carrying on one side. This information will help a sawyer make the best decision about how to fell a tree.

After determining the appropriate felling direction, a skilled sawyer can use a technique called sounding to establish the best way to fell the tree. This is done by striking the ax head against the notch at different angles to see which direction the wood sounds hollow or solid. Hollow sounds indicate that the tree is likely dying and more difficult to cut, while cracks or a firm sound indicate live wood.

Once the apex of the notch is located, the sawyer should score a line connecting the apex with the back cut for a cutting guide. When the cut is made, the sawyer should begin backing away from the apex along one of their escape routes. They should continue to keep an eye on the apex of the notch to ensure that it does not move in the wrong direction as the tree falls.

When a tree begins to fall, the sawyer should quickly and carefully release their chain brake and walk away along one of their escape routes. This will give them the time to react if the tree begins to fall in a different direction than expected. If the tree is not completely felled, it will likely rebound or ricochet into other surrounding trees and can cause property damage and serious injury or death to the sawyer.

from Treby Tree Services https://trebytreeservices.wordpress.com/2024/04/15/tree-felling-techniques/