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15 Things You Should Not Do When Cutting Down a Tree

When felling a tree, it is imperative that you take the necessary precautions (and avoid these no-nos) to keep you and the structures around you safe.

Focus and proper techniques are the key points when you are thinking about cutting down a tree on your own. Follow all the necessary safety tips and use the proper instruments and techniques to do this easily.

Top Tree Cutting Mistakes to Avoid

Cutting down a tree can be a complicated task. It requires careful planning, and there are some tree cutting mistakes to avoid. Safety protocols are important because they can prevent major accidents.

One of the mistakes is called the barber chair. According to the University of Georgia, “Barber chair occurs when the force pulling forward on the trunk is great enough to split the trunk but not great enough to trigger the hinge to fold. It is often caused by heavy, front-leaning trees. It can also occur by applying too much force to a rope while pulling the tree over when using mechanical advantage.”

Another mistake is using old gear. If you are using a chain saw, make sure there is no rust on the chain. If it has rust on it, it could break during the cutting process and harm you.

Tree Cutting Safety Tips and Tools for Every Homeowner

Choose the right tools and always follow tree cutting safety tips. If you are planning to cut down a tree, you need to assess the tree’s height and lean. Always check the surrounding hazards, like power lines and nearby small to large structures.

It is also crucial to clear the adjacent areas of the tree. Create a 45-degree escape route so when you cut down a tree, you have a path in the direction the tree will fall.

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Don’t forget safety gear

When you are using a chain saw and cutting a tree, safety is the most important thing. One of the most common reasons for tree removal is not having safety gear when cutting down a tree. You can use special chaps, which can stop a running chain and help prevent dangerous accidents. A helmet will protect your ears, eyes and head. Steel-toed shoes are also recommended.

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Don’t use a chain saw that should be retired

Cutting down a tree is not an easy task. You need proper, functional tools…. preferably tools that were built in the last decade or so and have been well-maintained. Always use a well-conditioned chain saw.

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Don’t work alone

You’ll be a lot safer if you have a trusted assistant standing a few feet behind you, watching the top of the tree for falling branches and letting you know when the tree starts to fall. Have your assistant tap you on the shoulder with a stick to alert you when it’s time to vacate the area.

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Don’t just wing it

Do your research on how to cut down a tree safely. And before you even start your saw, stand back and size up the situation. Think about how you’ll cut each branch and what will happen when you do.

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Don’t lean your ladder against a tree

It might be tempting to lean a ladder against a tree to do some pruning. Don’t do it. This stunt accounts for a large percentage of chain saw injuries.

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Don’t run out of oil or gas

Tree cutting is a difficult and high-risk job. You need to follow the proper tree felling do’s and don’ts to avoid any kind of serious situation. Fill the gas and chain oil reservoirs before dropping a tree. The last thing you want is to run out of gas in the middle of a felling cut.

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Don’t lose your grip

Never take either hand off of a running saw. If the saw kicks back, there’s nothing to stop it. Use an encircling grip with your thumbs wrapped around the handles.

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Don’t try to cut down a rotten tree

Leave rotten trees to the pros. If the heart of the tree is rotted out, the felling direction can be extremely unpredictable. In addition, it most likely has many dead limbs above that just might shake loose and land on you during cutting.

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Don’t use a dull chain saw

We’ll show you how to sharpen a chain saw, making the job of cutting down a tree much easier.

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Don’t forget to recheck chain tension

Before starting, check the chain tension. Recheck it after every hour or so of use and adjust it if necessary. Generally, new chains can expand. You need to be aware of this and check the chain after 20 minutes or so of use. Loose chains can create a problem and can fly off the bar, causing serious injuries. The driver’s bar can also be damaged due to the loose chain.

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Don’t DIY around power lines or near structures

If there’s even a small risk that you won’t be able to fell a tree away from power lines or structures around your house, it’s not worth it to DIY. Hire a pro.

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Don’t cut in the kickback zone

This spot, called the kickback zone, is the top half of the bar’s tip. If the kickback zone comes in contact with something while the chain is moving, the saw will kick up and back toward you. That’s why modern chain saws are equipped with a chain brake designed to stop the chain if a kickback occurs.

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Don’t pinch the saw

When cutting up your felled tree into smaller pieces, the saw can become pinched if you cut too far through a branch that supports the trunk. If this happens, stop the engine and use a stout branch as a lever to lift the trunk and free the saw.

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Don’t cut the ground

When cutting up a felled tree, avoid touching the ground with the chain because even a brief encounter will severely dull the cutting teeth on your chain saw. If possible, cut partially through the tree and then rotate it to cut the rest of the way through.

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Don’t leave the stump

If you want to remove a stump, you can rent and use a power stump grinder. You can also buy it from the online or offline market. Alternatively, a can of tree stump remover can be used to do this. Almost every stump killer is made of potassium nitrate. It will help to speed up the decomposition process. After pouring the granules, fill it with water. You will see spongy roots after four to six weeks. Now, you can easily break the wood.

Sources:

  • ResearchGate: “Causes and Environmental Effects of Tree Removal on the University of Ibadan Campus”
  • University of Georgia: “Chainsaw Safety: The Five Step Tree Felling Plan”
  • Ohio State University: “Tree Pruning, Trimming, and Felling Safety for Trainers and Supervisors”
  • University of Georgia: “Chainsaw Safety: Preventing Common Tree Felling Accidents”
  • ResearchGate: “Tree-trimming safety”
  • HSE: “Case studies: Terms and practises used in forestry and arboriculture”
 
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