When a tree reaches the end of its life, it must be said goodbye. It can be a difficult decision to make, but sometimes the tree becomes too close to the house, becomes too ill, becomes infested with an incurable bug, or grows too big and goes too close to a power line. If any of these occurrences occur, it is best to do the right thing and remove the tree. Although you may have spent hours and hours getting the tree to where it is now, allowing it to languish in poor conditions is almost demeaning to the tree.
Once you’ve decided to remove the tree, you must plan its removal. I can’t begin to count how many windows I’ve seen shattered or cars crushed as a result of inadequate tree removal planning. Decide which way you want it to fall and properly measure to ensure that it will fall completely clear of anything else that it could potentially damage.
Once you’ve determined the direction of the fall, climb up the tree and tie two long ropes near the top. They should be anchored on the opposite side of the one you want it to fall towards. This allows you to change the direction the tree is being lowered in case it begins to lean towards something it could destroy.
You’re ready to start cutting now that you’ve taken all of the essential measures. Please take a step back and think how stupid it is to use a manually operated saw or axe. Chopping down a tree by hand will take forever and will never be as precise as using a chainsaw. If you don’t have a chainsaw, you shouldn’t even think about attempting it. Check with your neighbors to see if anyone has one you could borrow. If it doesn’t work, you can rent or buy one from a home improvement store.
Before you begin chopping the tree, make sure you have sufficient eye and facial protection in case any wood chips fly into your eyes. I had a friend who lost his right eye while felling a tree, and I pray none of my readers make the same mistake he did. Always wear proper protection for any exposed portions of your body when using a power instrument.
You don’t want to just cut a straight line into the tree when making the cut. It is preferable to carve a sideways “V” into the tree. This is due to the fact that if you cut a straight line, the tree will roll to one side or the other. If you cut the tree in a “V,” it will be able to fall in the exact direction you want it to fall. It may be a few feet off due to human error during the cutting process on occasion, but if you have some strong friends pull on the ropes you tied, you can line it up with the path you wanted it to take. The whole thing shouldn’t take more than an hour.
The stump removal process can be little more challenging. You have several options, including renting a stump chipper, which will completely destroy the visible portion of the stump. Alternatively, you can spend countless hours digging it out. The stump is considerably more thoroughly removed, although it takes an eternity. This should not be a problem if you have children. Kids often enjoy the idea of digging and are eager to go outside and dig with their friends all day. This is the method I used, and I had the entire stump removed in less than a week. Keep in mind that my stump was about 1 foot in diameter, and digging probably won’t work for larger stumps.