Every owner of a modern country cottage or a suburban plot, as well as anyone who wishes to build their own house in the countryside, faces the need to remove unnecessary trees and shrubs from the site. This includes deadwood, plants infested with various pests, and simply hazardous trunks that threaten the safety of buildings, vehicles, and people.
- It is important! To eliminate this type of unwanted vegetation, a procedure known as tree felling should be conducted.
This process must be carried out in a timely manner, adhering to all safety requirements and regulations.
The Essence of Tree Felling Procedures
The general technology related to tree removal is not something new. It has been successfully applied for many years. In the past, trees were cleared from areas using a simple axe, but now chainsaws are used. If the vegetation on the site is more substantial, more advanced equipment and professional methods are employed.
When carrying out this process, it is crucial to adhere to specific safety regulations. According to professional standards, felling standing trees with a chainsaw must be done strictly in the direction of their natural fall, and absolutely not in the opposite direction.
For this reason, the primary task of any professional is to determine the correct direction for the tree to fall. It is easiest to fell large trunks in the direction of their natural lean or curvature, or towards the side with more significant branching or a smaller diameter trunk. This rule must be strictly adhered to unless there are specific conditions that necessitate deviation from the intended falling direction:
- The building and the parking lot are located.;
- Unstable or significantly waterlogged soil;
- The tree is situated on a steep slope..
Once the expert determines the intended direction of the tree’s fall, the branches are trimmed. This step is essential to reduce the tree’s overall width. By doing so, one can ensure that the tree will not hit anything as it falls.
The preparation process involves not only determining the direction of the fall and trimming branches but also clearing snow, compacting it, and removing shrubs. It’s also crucial to ensure a quick escape route for the workers once the tree begins to fall. Given the numerous tasks required, tree felling should be undertaken by a team of professionals rather than alone.
Important! If you need to remove trees from your property, you should contact our company.
We offer professionally organized tree removal services for various levels of complexity. By calling the contact numbers listed on our website, you can find out the basic rates for the work.
Tree Felling Tools
By turning to professionals, you can be confident that plant removal will be carried out as swiftly as possible, adhering strictly to all necessary safety measures. These advantages stem from the fact that experts use the following tools when performing their tasks.:
1. A felling spade is essential for small-diameter trunks and for making shallow cuts on larger plants. Essentially, it is a specialized telescopic tool.
2. The felling garden lever is ideally suited for trunks with average thickness. The device is characterized by a variety of lever lengths.
3. The crowbar and sledgehammer are specialized impact tools. They are used in conjunction with wedges designed for felling.
4. Wedges are essential for the swift removal of medium to large tree trunks. These tools are made from high-quality aluminum or durable plastic. In certain situations, removing a single trunk may require the use of multiple wedges.
5. A hydraulic wedge is a conventional hand tool that serves as an alternative to standard manual devices. This tool is particularly effective for removing large trees with wide trunks.
6. A rope is essential for making the incline. Using a chain will help protect the tree from potential splitting.
7. Winch. Its mechanism can be of the lever type or a special drum type. There are quite a few of these devices, and they all differ in terms of load capacity, thickness, and cable length specifications.
8. Modern electric winches are robust pieces of equipment designed for loading large cut elements and debris from felling into a specialized container.
9. Electric winches are quite powerful pieces of equipment used for loading large cut objects and residual elements. The device is securely fastened to a specially positioned horizontal base.
10. A handsaw, a household saw, and a standard axe are used for the quick trimming of relatively small-sized trunks, for the efficient cutting of dry trees, branch removal, and for the felling and subsequent chopping of trees.
11. A chainsaw, whether handheld or industrial, is used for removing numerous branches, the main trunk, and cutting fragments. It is employed for sawing large felled elements before they are stored in a special container or the bed of a truck. This tool must be straightforward and comfortable to use.
12. Specialized stump grinders are essentially powerful chipping machines. They are essential for reducing large remnants, various branches, and tree tops into wood chips.
13. Specialized containers or truck bodies are designed for the removal of accumulated waste. These devices vary in capacity and load-bearing capabilities. They are essential for the complete disposal of both small and large debris from suburban areas. In the absence of such a container, waste can be transported in the bed of a vehicle.
Simultaneously, machines specifically designed for tree felling can be employed. These are large-scale pieces of equipment suitable exclusively for extensive operations. This includes tasks such as felling forest stands, removing various woody objects, eliminating numerous large stumps, meticulously shredding cut branches, loading debris, and transporting it along with wood waste.
Primary Methods and Options for Tree Felling
There are several effective methods for felling standing trees. The optimal choice can be made depending on the specific situation.
It is crucial to select the optimal felling method based on the presence and removal of obstacles, the terrain characteristics, the area’s contamination, the level of danger, and the presence or absence of structures near the trees.
- Currently, professionals employ the following methods.:
1. A simple and relatively inexpensive option involves cutting down the object or laying it directly in the direction of its natural lean. This method is employed when the area around the tree is completely clear, with no plantings, country buildings, or modern utilities.
2. Another relatively inexpensive method involves a professional climber securing a rope at the top of the tree, which is then tensioned at the base using a standard winch. Near the ground, the tree is cut, and with the help of the same winch and rope, it is guided to fall in the desired direction. To ensure the operation is successful, the area is completely cleared of any structures. This approach allows for effective control over the direction in which the tree falls.
3. This method is used when there is a large amount of open space directly beneath the object. Here, the tree is cut into sections before felling. The presence of space is also required because a small area of land is needed for removing hazardous elements. Once the free space is ensured, specialists begin cutting the upper branches, gradually working their way down until reaching the tree’s base.
4. This method of tree felling is similar to the previous one. The difference is that the tree elements are carefully sawn off and then lowered to the ground using a rope. This is a special type of felling with simultaneous suspension. The technique is ideal if the area under the tree is somewhat restricted. This may be an area with fairly dense construction, where branches hang heavily over the building itself or near power lines. This type of felling is quite expensive due to the increased complexity of the work and the need to involve an entire team of specialists.
5. Tree Felling from an Aerial Platform. This is the most expensive method of removing a tree from a site. This technique is used to remove hazardous, decayed, or old trunks. Such trees cannot support the weight of a person, so during the felling process, one must be on a special platform. A professional climbs onto the platform with a chainsaw, carefully removes the branches, then the crown, and only after that the main trunk.
6. Felling a Tree from the Root. This is a relatively straightforward method, used when there is ample space around the tree. When the tree falls, it does not touch nearby structures or other trees that do not need to be removed from the site. During the process, the tree is dug around the entire perimeter of the root system. If large roots are encountered, they are chopped off. Using a pre-prepared winch or rope, the tree is pulled to one side. As a result, the entire root system is exposed on the ground.
Each of the aforementioned methods has its unique characteristics. The latest one, for instance, is perfect for preparing areas intended for laying foundations. After performing this operation, there will be no need to remove stumps separately. All that remains is to level the ground.
Effective Tree Felling Techniques and Tips
If you plan to fell a tree on your own and the situation does not necessitate complex equipment or high-level expertise, consider the following tips.:
The best time of year for felling trees is late autumn, winter, or early spring. In other words, this is the period before the sap starts flowing through the tree trunks. It is much easier to fell trees when there are no leaves;
If you need to use elements of previously felled trees, such as for firewood, you should actually cut them down during the period when the tree is most saturated with sap. The optimal time for felling is in the spring, when the buds are emerging. The presence of sap in the trunk slows down the rapid drying of the wood, allowing the material to be preserved much longer, and the burning process is accompanied by a pleasant and fairly bright aroma;
It is crucial to strictly adhere to safety regulations and avoid rushing under any circumstances. Tree felling is a rather hazardous activity. When performing this task independently, it is essential to carefully plan each step, as negligence can result in worker injuries and damage to valuable property and people;
The instructions for felling a tree suggest that it is wiser to start by removing smaller trees and those that are leaning. Afterward, you should tackle the more challenging ones. This approach will help build confidence in the success of the task, develop your skills, and understand which tools are needed for each specific situation;
The force of gravity is the perfect natural assistant. When felling a tree, one should not go against this natural force. Only with sufficiently compelling reasons should trees be felled in the opposite direction from the desired path. In such cases, it is essential to use a winch or a strong rope;
The wind can either be a formidable adversary to the operation or its perfect ally. Without the necessary level of expertise and the right equipment, it’s unwise to carry out this operation in windy conditions. However, knowledgeable individuals can leverage the wind to aid in the tree felling process. The wind significantly simplifies the felling process;
It is important to remember that a properly executed cut is already half the job done. This cut should be made directly on the trunk, approximately 50 cm from the ground, and precisely one-quarter of the trunk’s depth. The shape of such an incision should be V-shaped;
During the felling of a tree, one must never take their eyes off it. It is crucial to monitor the entire process closely, as there’s a risk that something could go wrong. It is strictly forbidden to stand behind the falling tree. Instead, one should step back to a pre-cleared area.
Before commencing the work, it is crucial to accurately calculate the trajectory of the tree’s fall. This task is best entrusted to professionals, especially when felling trees within city limits. This approach is economically optimal and ensures the safety of people.
- Professional Services
Our company offers professional tree felling services, whether within the city or in the countryside. Our experts promptly address issues related to the removal of unwanted trees from clients’ properties. The cost of our services is quite reasonable, and the felling process is carried out efficiently, swiftly, and with high quality.
