Posted: 11/23/2008 11:37:16 AM EDT
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I want to cut down a tree in my backyard, and I need some help.
Background information: I lost about half of this tree in a big storm about 3-4 months ago. It just split in half (vertically). The half that fell went backwards into my treed area, so it didn't damage anything. The remaining standing part is leaning to the left and appears to be rotted out inside. Obligatory pics: Full view of leaning part of tree: 
What it looked like just after it broke: 
Here's what I found inside the tree (no external indications of this though): 
Here's a better picture of it leaning: 
I called a tree company to see about removing the damaged tree. They wanted $900 to cut it down and take it away. I thought that was pretty steep. I called the power company because when this tree falls down, I think it's going to take out the power lines along the side of the property. They stopped by and didn't seem too concerned, so they aren't going to do anything about it. I've done research on how to fell a tree so that it falls where you want it. The problem I have is that this tree is already leaning in the wrong direction. I want it to fall back into the other trees, not left onto my power lines. I wouldn't care if it fell right, or even towards the front since it's far enough away from my house that it wouldn't hit it. My question, then: How do I go about cutting this tree so it falls away from its current angle? |
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That is a job for an INSURED professional. Call around, I'll bet you can get someone much cheaper then $900. So how much should I realistically expect to pay? Honestly, I think if I got someone to chop off the top half I could do the rest myself, since it wouldn't hit anything no matter what direction it fell. |
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Just tight a rope to it, as high up as possible, tie other end to your car. Tension the rope with the vehicle pulling in the direction you want it to fall. Now, cut it down whilst the the tree puller downer driver person in the car, with their foot on the gas pedal, takes off with reckless abandon when you yell "timber". The person in the car should wear a helmet 
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That is a job for an INSURED professional. Call around, I'll bet you can get someone much cheaper then $900. So how much should I realistically expect to pay? Honestly, I think if I got someone to chop off the top half I could do the rest myself, since it wouldn't hit anything no matter what direction it fell. I had a 40' black pine about 20' from my house. I got the following estimates from 3 companies... 1350- cut, remove, grind stump 1200- cut, remove 900- cut and leave 700- cut and leave 850- cut, remove, grind stump. That was here in suburban NJ. I went with the $850 price. I would have to believe that you should be able to find a crew to cut and drop that tree for $500-600. Trees are not my business so take my advice with a little skepticism. |
| If you have acces to a front end loader/backhoe you can raise the bucket as high as possible and press against the tree as you cut and you should be able to put anywhere. That said the base of that tree is irregular and may be a slight problem. If you tie a rope to the top and pull that will also work. Good luck and be careful. |
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I would cut a small angle in the tree of where you want to put it down Leave for a couple days, then come and cut it down. There is not enough meat on the tree to cut a wedge. If he tried it would go right towards the lines. The tree is top heavy and leaning already. Hire a pro and they will take it down in sections |
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What do you want to do with the wood afterwards?
Hire a pro regardless. If you want nothing more to do with it when its down, have them cut it down and remove BOTH pieces of the tree. If you want to cut it up for fire wood and or mulch or something? Just have them cut it down and grind the stump. |
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Let it fall on its own. that puts the burden on the power company or your homeowner's insurance.
I have a HUGE oak that is leaning toward my house. I can't realistically remove it without paying ALOT of cash. But, if it just falls during a storm, insurance covers it (minus the deductible). TRG |
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tie your cousins 4-wheeler winch to the top. as you saw have him back away. post video  Here's your MOST CORRECT AR15.COM answer...This should only be attempted after you've started on the 2nd 12 pack of your favorite beer. The beer will protect you from the inevitable carnage. I had 6 trees removed last year this time and spent just shy of $4,000.00 on the job...they had to use a bucket truck and a timber claw/arm truck at the same time. Good Luck! Bryan |
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what the heck is that inside the tree? tie a come-a-long up high to another tree, pull it taught, use a couple of other chains tied to other trees in other directions; then just set the tree on fire. KILL IT WITH FIRE!! THIS IS ARFCOM!! The inside of the tree is shredded plastic grocery bags and pulverized wood powder. From the looks of it something was trying to make a nest in there. While setting the tree on fire sounds cool, it would be a huge flame. The part of the tree that's still standing is still nearly 2 feet wide and it's really tall. It might burn out in a day or two. 
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Seriously, rent a bucket truck or lift. That should be around a $100 for a few hours. Ride up in the bucket clearing limbs as you go. When you're clear cut the trunk in 6 or 8 foot sections from the top down. Spend the rest of the rental time putting up Christmas lights.  CHRIS |
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Seriously, rent a bucket truck or lift. That should be around a $100 for a few hours. Ride up in the bucket clearing limbs as you go. When you're clear cut the trunk in 6 or 8 foot sections from the top down. Spend the rest of the rental time putting up Christmas lights.
CHRIS This right here is the way to go,although you could also just tie off a rope as high as possible(for leverage) and pull with a truck(you could actually do this by hand,me and a buddy used to cut HUGE trees here for beer money while going to school )
If you can't get a truck back there or if you feel uncomfortable with somebody pulling by hand,tie off at the top but then loop the rope around ANOTHER tree to get some friction going. That'll keep the tree from pulling the rope where it wants to fall. Just make sure that you have some tension in the rope in the direction you want it to fall. What kind of tree is that? a Pecan,or Elm or something? Just be careful. That tree looks like some brittle wood. Pecans have very brittle wood and sometimes just give-way while sawing branches. Good luck and of course,post pics! |
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No, no, no - this is ARFcom! All we need is an ARF-approved brand of chainsaw, a plate of crispy fried bacon to summon courage and strength, and a plan devised on the intarwebz for success! Don't forget about the beer and pretzels afterward, to celebrate. If I were going to do this job I'd tie a rope to the tree about 2/3 of the way to the top, anchor the rope about 45 degrees down, and then start pulling the tree upright. I might even put a second rope on it to assure that it'd fall in most any direction BUT to the left. Tag for pic! 
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No, no, no - this is ARFcom! All we need is an ARF-approved brand of chainsaw, a plate of crispy fried bacon to summon courage and strength, and a plan devised on the intarwebz for success! Don't forget about the beer and pretzels afterward, to celebrate. If I were going to do this job I'd tie a rope to the tree about 2/3 of the way to the top, anchor the rope about 45 degrees down, and then start pulling the tree upright. I might even put a second rope on it to assure that it'd fall in most any direction BUT to the left. Tag for pic! http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g169/franksymptoms/misc/treefall.jpg While probably not the smartest thing I've done, at one time there was a tree damaged in a storm that began to lean toward my deck. It was about 40-50' tall and my deck was about 30 feet away. I had to get it to all fall about 45-60 degrees off its current lean to clear the deck. I essentually tied a rope about 2/3 up tied it off to a winch puller and anchored it to another tree that was 90 degrees from its current lean. Then started cuting a notch in the direction I wanted it to fall, winched, cut a little more, winched, back cut a little, winched some more, etc. Eventually Got it to fall in the direction I wanted. |