How to Safely Cut Down a Tree

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If you live in the country, sooner or later you will need to cut down a tree. Learn the safest way to proceed.
If you live in the country, sooner or later you will need to cut down a tree. Learn the safest way to proceed.
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The basic items need to fell trees safely here, atop a freshly cut elm: helmet, goggles, gloves, chain saw, maul, and wedges.
The basic items need to fell trees safely here, atop a freshly cut elm: helmet, goggles, gloves, chain saw, maul, and wedges.
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Woodcutters select a dying red oak that was struck by lightning a year before cutting.
Woodcutters select a dying red oak that was struck by lightning a year before cutting.
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The location of the undercut will determine direction of tree fall
The location of the undercut will determine direction of tree fall
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The completed undercut, which must now be carefully squared.
The completed undercut, which must now be carefully squared.
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Undercut completed and safely chain in place.
Undercut completed and safely chain in place.
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Making the back cut squarely towards and just slightly above undercut
Making the back cut squarely towards and just slightly above undercut
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Sometimes the application of a saw wedge is necessary to prevent pinching of the saw blade, which can occur when the back cut is made.
Sometimes the application of a saw wedge is necessary to prevent pinching of the saw blade, which can occur when the back cut is made.
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Sawyer steps clear of a falling tree. A pre-planned avenue of escape is an absolute necessity, particularly in heavily wooded areas.
Sawyer steps clear of a falling tree. A pre-planned avenue of escape is an absolute necessity, particularly in heavily wooded areas.
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The hinge wood now does its job as the tree falls.
The hinge wood now does its job as the tree falls.
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This property felled Dutch elm, in the process of dying of Dutch elm disease, shows the correct amount of supporting hinge wood between cuts.
This property felled Dutch elm, in the process of dying of Dutch elm disease, shows the correct amount of supporting hinge wood between cuts.

 If you live in the country, sooner or later you will be faced with the problem of clearing trees from your land. Unfortunately, the common sense with which many people live their lives seems to evaporate when this somewhat infrequent chore presents itself. I know many competent, thoughtful country people who take greater safety precautions when they are mowing the lawn than when wielding a chain saw in a nearby stand. After spending a lifetime watching how dangerously unpredictable both trees and tree-felling equipment can be, I can only guess that Murphy invented his law while taking down a tree. The resultant injuries are almost always disastrously severe, and completely avoidable. You’ve probably read what you consider to be an appropriate share of chain saw warnings, but take it from half a century of logging, there’s much the manufacturer didn’t tell you in the operations manual.

I became involved with cutting trees back in the mid 1940s, and I learned from one of the best–my father. We burned wood as fuel and also cut logs for lumber. In those early years the old cross-cut saw was standard equipment. A man on each end of these long, single-blade, human-powered saws finished the job well enough then, but they couldn’t even compete in the same arena with today’s chain saws. However, crosscut saw injuries were almost unheard of.

Assuming that you don’t want to leave modern advantages behind, your list of equipment starts with a good, sharp chain saw, a couple of sawing wedges of aluminum or plastic, a maul to drive wedges, and good head, eye, and ear protection. Equipment varies somewhat with the type of trees as well as their size and location. Sometimes you also need a long cable to help pull the tree down, as well as a sturdy chain to prevent tree splitting.

Best Time to Cut Down a Tree

If trees are to be used as fuel, lumber, or logs, they should be cut at a time when the sap saturation is at its lowest level. This occurs during late fall through winter, well before annual sap flow and tree budding. Wood sap retards drying of logs and firewood. I strongly recommend felling a tree before foliage appears. Branch cleanup is also much easier if leaves are off the tree.

  • Published on Oct 1, 1995
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