When the need arises to remove a tree from your property, you should engage tree cutting techniques with determination and precision. There are many crucial things you need to do and avoid doing to ensure you are safe during the process. Carelessness on your part can lead to significant injury to your person and massive property damage to the surrounding area.
Hence the arborists at Croft Tree Experts would like you to know the dos and don’ts of cutting down trees.
DO: Make A Plan For Tree Removal
A common mistake average people make when felling trees is failing to make a plan for safely taking down and removing the tree.
Tree cutting techniques always begin with an analysis of the tree that needs to be felled and the area around it. You need to make a plan based on the buildings in the immediate vicinity, the direction the tree leans in, nearby utility lines, other trees around, the health of the tree you intend to fell, etc.
If your analysis of any of the above conditions indicates significant risk, you should not be cutting down that tree without professional help. The danger to yourself and the damage you can do to your surroundings should not be toyed with.
DO: Use Safety Gear
When undertaking a project like felling a tree, safety is always a critical issue. Hence, you should always use PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to protect yourself during the felling of a tree. Even if the tree is relatively small, the danger of injuring yourself only reduces marginally. Gear should you use include the following:
- Work boots or sturdy, closed shoes
- Durable long-sleeved shirts and pants (with chainsaw-safe ratings if possible)
- Hard hat
- Goggles that seamlessly cover your eyes
- Earplugs or earmuffs
- Work gloves
DON’T: Use The Wrong Equipment
Using an axe might be cheaper for DIY enthusiasts but the risks are much higher than you can anticipate, especially if you’re felling a large tree.
Any tree larger than a sapling should be felled with a chainsaw. For small to medium size trees, you will need a chainsaw with a 16 to 18-inch bar. Larger trees require a 20 to 24-inch bar chainsaw to safely fell. And that just scratching the surface with regard to types of chainsaws. Ensure that your chainsaw is properly functional before you start it up.
An important tree cutting technique is to use felling wedges for particularly large trees (over 18 inches in diameter). These wedges help direct the tree when it falls and allows you to prevent pinching of your chainsaw during tree felling.
DON’T: Fell A Tree Alone
A staple of tree cutting techniques is to always have a lookout, especially for large trees.
If you are cutting down a tree, you are too close to tell if the tree is falling as you have planned it. Your lookout stands at a distance away from you but within earshot to warn you if the task is going awry.
You should establish a signal with your lookout to quickly indicate danger and give you enough time to escape the worst of the situation.
Croft Tree Experts – Ottawa’s Arborists Services
Tree cutting techniques involve many serious considerations to ensure safety during the process. Following these guidelines should allow you to remove any unwanted trees from your property without hurting yourself or causing unnecessary damage.
However, even if you follow all these guidelines, mistakes can still occur at the hands of an inexperienced person. Most of the equipment and techniques used to fell trees require specialized knowledge and training to properly handle. As such, it is always advisable to engage an expert arborist when you need to cut down a tree.
Please contact us if you have any concerns about tree removal. Croft Tree Experts provides unmatched expertise in tree and tree stump removal. Our dedicated team of arborists is experienced in handling urban and rural environments. Choose us to ensure your tree is removed as safely as possible.