DIY Guide to Cutting Down Small Tree

A Guide to Do It Yourself Tree Clearing for Smaller Tree Jobs by Rhode Island Tree Service. If you need bigger trees removed – we do tree removal in the state of Rhode Island.

If you need to figure out how to cut down a small tree on your property, it’s valuable to note that this work can be done by a property owner in many cases, but only with the suitable tools and safety procedures in place. It’s additionally key to know when you should leave this work to tree trimming professionals!

Home owners could also take into consideration when it’s time to get rid of any kind of tree from their property, including indications that it’s diseased and decayed or simply won’t thrive. You might also consider some tips on how to ensure your property appears its best after you’ve chopped down that small tree as well as what to do with all that timber as well!

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

Whether you’re considering chopping a small tree down without having a saw or you have a large axe in the garage ready to go, it’s critical to consider safety first! Even lightweight chainsaws can cause severe damage if handled incorrectly, and splintered wood often flies in any and all directions, also risking accident.

Before you begin, protect young children and household pets far away from your worksite and check for unanticipated visitors frequently whilst working. Know your surroundings; look for overhead wires and other obstructions as well as uneven ground. Clear away stones, fallen branches and sprigs, and other dangers; cover holes and openings in the ground as needed.

Choose what’s called an escape route; this should be two different directions in which you can run if the tree shall start to drop or slip toward you. Rest often while working to double-check your surroundings and ensure you and any helpers are safe and avoiding interference, and that your escape routes are always clear.

Next, note your clothing. Wear clothes constructed from thick, durable cotton, flannel, or wool so they repel small wood chips and bits. Pick a button-up shirt with long sleeves and keep every little thing buttoned all the way, to cover

as much skin as possible!

Also, wear tough, durable cotton or denim pants and steel-toe work boots with ankle protection. Purchase thick cotton work gloves and heavy-duty eye protection, and a construction helmet! 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 extreme property harm, avoid parking your car near that tree and take out items near your work spaces, for example, a lawnmower and other such equipment. You might as well cover a nearby fence and landscape design features with a thick tarp, to help decrease damage from falling branches.

Before cutting down 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 aged, worn out, in shabby condition, or otherwise broken. Evaluate your axe or saw on a small stump or log before tending to a tree that needs cutting, so you know everything is in good condition and ready for use.

Planning for How to Cutting Down Small Tree

Your very first step in actually cutting down small tree with an axe or chainsaw is to decide on the target, or the preferred direction of the fall. Note if the tree has a side or back lean; typically a lean, along with overhead hazards, determine the tree’s “bad side.” You’ll need to avoid this bad side at the time of the last 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 completely and should work about 1/3 of the way through the tree trunk. Afterward, you’ll want to add a hinge cut; this is a wedge cut, normally at a 45-degree to 70-degree angle downward, toward the face cut.

These cuts should start little and get bigger as you work through them, but don’t cut through that hinge! You’ll want to get rid of 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.

Search for dangers and make certain that no one remains in the way before you make the final release cut and get rid of the wedge you’ve created. If the tree doesn’t fall as expected, continue to make small cuts along that wedge so y

ou keep weakening the trunk.

 

Tips for Cutting Down Small Tree Without a Saw

You can cut down a small tree without a chainsaw; it requires more physical labor but this is how trees were chopped down for centuries before chainsaws were invented! First, acquire felling wedges. These wedges are insert

ed into your cuts as you make them, preventing your axe blade from becoming pinched in the process. They also put added pressure on the cut trunk, encouraging the tree to fall.

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

You also need to keep in mind if the tree is twisting heavily is loaded down with large branches along one side. No matter your attempts, that tree is more than 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 harm.

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 permit the weight of the tree do the work in felling it for you!

 

Timeline in Cutting Down Small Tree?

Both mature and small landscaping trees add lots of aesthetic 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, in addition to a nesting location for birds that might eat typically bothersome bugs all around your yard.

While trees offer lots of benefits for your property, there are times when it’s better to remove them! An arborist can advise you if a tree is rotted beyond treatment and repair; sometimes, however, a tree may be so rotted within that its bark begins to peel off and limbs dry out, both of which are signs that it’s time to cut it down. Trees infested with termites and other damaging bugs might also need eliminating, to protect the rest of your property.

If you have a tree on your real estate that just refuses to flourish no matter how often you have it pruned or otherwise nurtured, it may not be native to your area! Like florals and other greenery, trees often grow best in their native habitat; trees that thrive in cold weather might wither under the hot, tropical sun, as one example. If your property’s tree is struggling and not native, it’s not likely to ever do well and should be extracted.

There is also nothing wrong with disposing of a tree merely because you don’t like its aesthetics or placement on your property. A tree in the way of your building plans, view of the horizon, or an exterior window should be cleared away, so you enjoy your property and your view from both indoors and out!

 

How to Enhance Your Property After Removing a Tree

Your might find your outdoor space looks a bit exposed and far less lush once you’re done cutting down small tree, and especially if you remove any large, mature trees or other landscaping features! One way to add lots of visual interest without shutting 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 barren 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 wonderful touch and help break up long, boring outside surfaces.

For more visual interest along you

r real estate, consider some hardscape features. Landscaping refers to items that grow such as flowers and shrubs, whereas hardscaping includes items that don’t grow, like brick, concrete, and rock. Retaining walls protect residential or commercial property from excess moisture or erosion, but can also be attractive, providing a bit of height and depth to your space. Stacked brick perimeters and edging also add lots of visual interest and also some separation between your landscaping and lawn.

What to Do With That Wood When You Finish Cutting Down Small Tree

After you’ve chopped down that tree, what to do with all that wood? One particular necessary pointer is to ensure the tree was healthy and free of health conditions and pests before you burn that lumber or add it in your household rubbish. Transporting infested wood can mean transporting those harmful pests 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 c

ut from your property, to contain unsafe smoke and fumes. Some softwoods also don’t burn very well; you may notice that your planned bonfire generates more smoke than flames, or that you battle for several hours to keep the flames going.

If you’re unsure the condition of the tree you just felled or have no way of throwing away that wood, call a tree trimming expert or tree removal service. They will quite easily identify the wood types, health condition of the tree, and if the lumber is salvageable. They will also be familiar with local codes and guidelines that affect how to dispose of that wood!

If the wood is safe for disposal, you might think about renting a wood chipper. This makes quick work of breaking down that wood 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 make sure you break down that tree into workable pieces before feeding it into the chipper.

 

Not Sure About The Process of Cutting Down Small Tree

If you’re uncertain of cutting down small tree, depend 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 know how to contain termites and pests when removing infested trees, ensuring your property is protected.

A tree removal company can also suggest a native tree that might flourish on your real estate or a more desirable tree species. Their advice ensures your property looks its best and you’re happy with the end result for years to come, so give them a telephone call if you’re unsure of cutting down small tree in your yard.