How To Cut Down a Small Tree

If you need to know how to cut down a small tree on your property, it’s essential to note that this work can be done by a property owner in many cases, but only by using the correct hardware and safety procedures in place. It’s also necessary to know when you ought to leave this job to tree cutting experts!

Homeowners might possibly also think of when it’s time to extract any type of tree from their property, including indications that it’s unhealthy and decayed or simply won’t survive. You might also consider some tips on how to ensure your property looks its best after you’ve cut down that small tree as well as what to do with all that lumber too!

Safety First Long Before You Learn How to Cut Down a Small Tree!

Whether you’re considering cutting a small tree down without a saw or you have a large axe in the basement all ready to go, it’s vital to remember safety first! Even compact chainsaws can cause harmful trauma if handled incorrectly, and splintered material often flies in any and all directions, also risking injury.

Before you commence, secure little ones and family pets far away from your worksite and look for unforeseen guests often whilst working. Know your settings; look for overhead wires and other interferences as well as uneven ground. Clear away stones, dropped limbs and shoots, and other dangers; cover holes and openings in the ground as needed.

Choose what’s called an escape route; which should be two different directions in which you can run if the tree shall start to drop or move towards you. Rest often while working to ascertain your surroundings and make certain that you and any helpers are safe and avoiding distraction, and that your escape routes are always clear.

Next, note your attire. Wear clothes constructed from thick, durable cotton, flannel, or wool so they repel small wood chips and bits. Choose a button-up shirt with long sleeves and keep everything buttoned all the way, to cover as much skin as possible!

Also, wear rugged, resilient cotton or denim trousers and steel-toe work boots with ankle protection. Acquire thick cotton work gloves and heavy-duty eye protection, and a hard hat! When using a chainsaw or any power tools, protect your hearing with proper earplugs or coverings, and wear chainsaw chaps or leg protection. Long hair should be pulled back neatly and kept out of your face and eyes.

As even a small tree can cause severe property damage, avoid parking your motor vehicle near that tree and get rid of items near your work spaces, for instance, a lawnmower and other similar equipment. You might additionally cover a nearby fence and landscaping features with a thick tarp, to help decrease damage from falling branches.

Before chopping a small tree down with a chainsaw, check the chain brake and throttle. If using an axe, make sure the axe head is secure and the handle in good condition, without splitting. Never use any tools that look outdated, worn, in bad condition, or otherwise damaged. Check your axe or saw on a small stump or log before taking care of a tree that needs cutting, so you know everything is in good condition and ready for use.

Planning for How to Cut Down a Small Tree

Your 1st step in actually cutting down a small tree with an axe or chainsaw is to decide on the target, or the preferred direction of the fall. Keep in mind if the tree has a side or back lean; typically a lean, and also overhead hazards, determine the tree’s “bad side.” You’ll want to avoid this bad side during the final or felling cut.

Start cutting the tree with a face cut, lined up with the target and perpendicular to the ground. This face cut determines how the tree will fall once cut entirely and should work about 1/3 of the way through the tree trunk. Next, you’ll want to add a hinge cut; this is a wedge cut, in most cases at a 45-degree to 70-degree angle downward, toward the face cut.

These cuts should start small and get larger as you progress through them, but don’t cut through that hinge! You’ll need to take out that wedge when it’s large enough to weaken the tree. As you create this wedge, you might need to make a small cut on the side of the tree opposite the face cut and insert a wedge or shim. This reduces the risk of the tree falling opposite the target.

Look around for hazards and be certain that nobody is in the way before you make the final release cut and take out the wedge you’ve created. If the tree doesn’t fall as expected, continue to make small cuts along that wedge so you keep weakening the trunk.

Tips for Cutting a Small Tree Down Without a Saw

You can cut down a small tree without having a chainsaw; it requires more physical labor but this is how trees were felled for centuries before chainsaws were invented! First, invest in felling wedges. These wedges are inserted into your cuts as you make them, preventing your axe blade from becoming pinched in the process. They also put added force on the cut trunk, encouraging the tree to fall.

Before you start cutting a small tree down without having a saw, inspect it with care. The vibrations created by cutting at a tree loosen dead and decaying branches, which can easily fall on you or any assistants nearby! Start felling your tree by removing any loosened or obviously damaged branches. Use heavy-duty pruning shears on small branches if it’s unwieldy to operate an axe around the tree’s top.

You additionally need to note if the tree is leaning heavily is loaded down with large branches along one side. No matter your endeavors, that tree is most likely to fall in the direction of its lean. Plan accordingly and begin by removing the treetop rather than felling it at the trunk, to avoid property destruction.

Once you’ve shortened the tree and stripped it off as many branches as needed, you can make the same face and hinge cuts you would with a chainsaw. Add your felling wedges to the face cut as you go, tapping them in with the backside of the axe head. As with using a chainsaw, don’t cut through that hinge but allow the weight of the tree do the work in felling it for you!

When Is It Time to Cut Down a Small Tree?

Both matured and small landscaping trees add lots of visual interest to any property; sometimes, they may even boost your property’s overall value. Trees also offer shade to the ground, keeping it from getting scorched in the summer time, along with a nesting location for birds that might just eat otherwise irritating insect pests around your yard.

While trees offer lots of perks for your property, there are times when it’s better to get rid of them! An arborist can advise you if a tree is atrophied beyond healing and repair; occasionally, however, a tree could be so rotted within that its bark begins to pull off and branches dry out, both of which are signs that it’s time to cut it down. Trees plagued with termites and other damaging bugs might also need removing, to protect the rest of your real estate.

If you have a tree on your property that just refuses to grow no matter how frequently you have it pruned or otherwise supported, it might not be native to your area! Like florals and other vegetation, trees often grow best in their native habitat; trees that thrive in cold weather may wither under the blazing, tropical sun, as one good example. If your property’s tree is struggling and not native, it’s not likely to ever thrive and should be cleared away.

There is also nothing wrong with getting rid of a tree purely because you do not like its appearance or location on your real estate. A tree in the way of your building plans, view of the horizon, or an exterior window should be taken out, so you enjoy your property and your view from both indoors and out!

How to Enhance Your Property After Removing a Tree

Your might discover your outdoor space looks a bit exposed and far less lush once you cut down a small tree, and especially if you remove any large, mature trees or other landscaping features! One way to add lots of aesthetic attraction without blocking out the view is by flowering shrubs; try lilac bushes or honeysuckle for both color and an attractive aroma in your backyard.

If your home’s exterior surfaces now seem a bit dull and lackluster once you remove trees near the house, add flower boxes under the windows and paint the home’s trim a crisp white. Decorative shutters also add a magnificent touch and help break up long, boring outside walls.

For more visual interest along your property, consider some hardscape elements. Landscaping refers to items that grow such as flowers and shrubs, whereas hardscaping includes items that don’t grow, like brick, concrete, and stone. Retaining walls protect property from excess moisture or erosion, but can also be appealing, providing a bit of height and depth to your space. Stacked brick borderlines and outlining also add lots of visual interest and also some separation between your landscaping and lawn.

What to Do With That Wood Once Cutting Down a Small Tree

After you’ve felled that tree, what to do with all that wood? One particular necessary guideline is to ensure the tree was healthy and free of diseases and pests before you burn that wood or put it in your household rubbish. Relocating infested wood can mean hauling those harmful insects with it so they just move on to another tree!

Your city could also have building regulations or other rules that dictate what you can do with lumber cut from your property, to contain unsafe smoke and fumes. Some softwoods also don’t burn effectively; you might discover that your planned bonfire produces more smoke than flames, or that you have a hard time for hours to try to keep the fire going.

If you’re not sure the condition of the tree you just felled or have no way of taking care of that timber, call a tree trimming expert or tree removal service. They will easily identify the wood species, condition of the tree, and if the wood is salvageable. They will also be familiar with local regulations and guidelines that affect how to dispose of that wood!

If the wood is safe for disposal, you might look into renting a wood chipper. This makes quick work of breaking down that lumber so you can bag it up and put it in the trash or take it to a local disposal site. Use extreme caution when working with a wood chipper and ensure you break down that tree into workable pieces before feeding it into the chipper.

When You Don’t Know How to Cut Down a Small Tree

If you’re not sure how to chop down a small tree, count on the services of a tree removal company near you! Keep in mind that tree trimmers specialize in removing trees of all sizes and varieties, not just mature trees. They can make quick work of trimming and digging up landscaping trees and understand how to contain termites and pests when removing infested trees, ensuring your property is protected.

A tree removal company can additionally recommend a native tree that might thrive on your property or a more appealing tree species. Their advice ensures your property looks its best and you’re happy with the end result for years to come, click here to give them a telephone call if you’re uncertain how to chop down a small tree in your lawn.