~ This is a featured post. ~
If you remember back in the summer I had a blue spruce tree replaced in my front yard.It took me a while to realize when a tree had outstayed their welcome, and when to enlist a professional to get the job done. Therefore, I thought it would be interesting for my readers to hear from The Tree Center on tips for cutting down and replacing a tree.
Sometimes, a tree
just has to go. It may have grown too large for your garden and the surrounding
neighbourhood, or it may have a disease that means it’s dying and poses a risk
to other trees, or it may already be dead and pose a falling risk to neighbors and
yourself.
It's not a decision
to be taken lightly, and if the tree is particularly large, you shouldn’t fell
it yourself – call in a professional; The Tree Center will be able to recommend an experienced tree surgeon.
If the tree has a trunk diameter smaller than 10 inches and is under 20 feet tall,
however, you could fell it yourself with a handsaw. Let everyone in your
neighborhood know about your plans first, as some may feel the tree is partly
on their property.
Safe felling
Look at the area
around the tree for anything in the way – a car, wires, furniture – and move it
to safety. Then look at the way the tree naturally angles – this is the safest
direction it should fall in.
You should make
sure that there are no big jutting branches that could trap you or break anything
as the tree comes down; if you suspect that there are rotten areas in the
trunk, stop immediately and call in the professionals!
Work out two escape
routes – one either side of the expected line of fall – and make sure these
pathways are clear. This is an all-day job, usually, so take your time. Rushing
causes injuries!
The first cut
This first cut is
the undercut and it’s a v-shaped notch – 90 degrees, ideally – into the trunk.
The notch should be facing the direction you want the tree to fall in and it
should cut into the trunk’s diameter by about a quarter. If the tree’s diameter
is less than six inches, you may be able to cut all the way through, but make
sure you have lots of people around to help.
The backcut
The backcut should
be made about two inches above the hinge part (the point of the V) of the
undercut. Never make the backcut lower than the undercut as you could cause the
tree to fall in the opposite direction and this is dangerous! These two cuts
help you to control the direction of the fall.
Once you see the
tree beginning to bend and fall, move right out of the way. Falling trees can
bounce, so don’t risk it!
Limbing
This is where you
remove branches coming off the main trunk, starting at the bottom of the trunk
and working upwards. Stand on the opposite side of the trunk as the branch
you’re working on so it doesn’t fall on you and don’t attempt to remove any
branches that are propping up the main trunk.
Now you have your
bare log! You may decide to use it for firewood, or you may just want your local authority to come
collect it – it’s up to you!
Replacing the tree
If you’ve decided
to have the stump ground out, be aware that the intricate
root system will still be in place. This system could interfere with and block
the progress of a new root system, so you may not be able to plant a new tree
directly on the site of the old one for some years. Your best bet is to choose
another location five or more feet away and then make sure you take extra care
of the new tree until it’s completely established.