Tree Felling – How to Safely Fell a Tree

Tree Felling is a dangerous and complex process that should only be undertaken by individuals with the required level of training and experience. Mistakes made during the felling of a tree can result in damage to property and serious injury or death to saw operators and bystanders. The majority of injuries and incidents relating to the felling of a tree can be prevented by ensuring that the correct work positioning and cutting techniques are used.

There are many reasons why a tree may need to be felled, whether it is unsuitable for the location in which it has been planted and is causing subsidence problems, or perhaps an overgrowth of trees is restricting the amount of sunlight that can reach your house. Larger trees may also be restricting access to buildings or encroaching on neighbours’ properties. Some people even choose to remove large trees from their own properties to make more space and improve views or to take advantage of a better wind situation.

Before starting the felling of a tree you should examine it for any potential hazards, such as dead or loose limbs that could fall after the tree has been felled and cause injury to saw operators. You should also look for any electrical conductors that may be in the vicinity of the tree, as these can become severely injured if they are struck by a saw blade. In addition, you should ensure that there are no persons or valued targets within the path of the tree’s intended fall for a distance of at least 2.0 times its height from the base of the subject tree (see the drop zone diagram below).

The first cut in the felling process is known as a notch cut and is typically a V-shaped notch facing the direction in which the tree is to fall. This is normally made just above any swellings at the base of the tree, though some arborists opt to make it a little higher up the trunk. Following the notch cut, an undercut is then made, which weakens the base of the tree and further guides the direction in which it will fall. Finally, a back cut is then made on the opposite side of the undercut, a few inches above the notch cut and this completes the felling process, enabling the tree to come down in a controlled manner.

Lastly, you should ensure that your escape paths are clear and free of obstructions, such as any branches, brush or twigs that might get in the way of the sawing process. You should be standing at a safety distance of about 45 degrees behind the subject tree at the point it is expected to fall, and this distance will need to be increased if you are working with very large trees.

When done correctly, a properly executed felling operation is very safe and can have some impressive benefits both environmental and financial! It’s certainly not a practice that should be undertaken by inexperienced individuals, but when carried out with the right knowledge and equipment it can offer a range of incredible benefits.

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