Felling a Tree

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These four factors-lean, balance, wind and rot-will give you a good idea of where the tree will land. With that in mind, look for a clear space, or bed, into which to drop the tree, where it won’t damage anything valuable or get hung up in the branches of another tree. Never try to drop a tree up a steep slope-it could kick back at you when it hits the ground.

You now know where you want to drop the tree and where the tree wants to fall. But do you both agree? If you and the tree are within 45 degrees of each other, you can proceed without any special cuts. If you are unsure of where the tree will fall, you can direct it by tying a rope or cable as high on the tree as you can reach. Either make certain the rope is long enough that whoever is pulling does not end up under the tree, or put the rope around a tree out in front of the spot you want your tree to fall, so that your helper can pull from the side at a 90-degree angle. Also, create two escape routes so you can move away quickly as soon as the tree begins to fall. Fix the routes firmly in your mind.

Dropping a Tree

When you first try felling a tree, be prepared for the possibility that you will drop a tree in the wrong direction. Learn from your mistakes and eventually you’ll master the craft.

For small trees up to about 6 inches in diameter, you do not need any fancy cuts. When you have cut about three-quarters of the way through the tree, you can usually stand to one side and push the tree over into its bed. Pushing with a forked stick is particularly effective.

The traditional way of felling bigger trees is with an undercut and a back cut. It is possible to use an axe, but also dangerous. Chopping tends to dislodge weak branches, which can fall on your head, and the lack of precision with an axe cut makes it harder to predict where the tree will fall. Using a saw-such as a chain saw or tubular-frame bow saw-will make it easier to predict where the tree will fall, but you must exercise caution with these tools, too.

The undercut is the first cut you will make. It should be made on the side where you want the tree to fall. Begin at waist height with a horizontal cut, continuing to about one-third the distance through the tree. Pull out the saw and begin another cut, angling it downward, far enough above the first to cut out a 45-degree wedge of wood.

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