Cutting down a tree near an urban or suburban home isn't as simple as slicing it through and shouting, "Timber!" Trees can be unpredictable when they fall, and they can also cause damage over a large area depending on how they fall. Here are some things to keep in mind during the tree removal process:
1. Total Drop Zone
The first task for the removal technicians will be to determine the possible drop zone of the tree. This is the area in which the tree may fall once it is cut. The drop zone typically surrounds the tree on all sides, so it's essentially a circular zone with the tree in the center.
The zone also typically extends out 1.5 to 2 times the height of the tree. The reason for the large size of this circle is that a tree can be unpredictable. A tree can slide or even jump a bit as it hits the ground, thus landing some distance out from where it started before it was cut.
2. Felling Path
The felling path is the desired direction of the fall. The lead technician or arborist determines the ideal and most likely felling path for the tree which is based upon the landscape around it and the growth pattern of the tree.
A good felling path plan means the tree will land where it will cause the most harm, instead of falling toward a house or busy road. In tight quarters, additional work may be necessary before cutting to ensure the tree will likely fall in the desired direction.
3. Safety Routes
Every good plan includes one, and preferably two, safety escape routes for those working near the base of the tree during the main felling. The plan will typically include a single escape route at a bare minimum, which is the main route the workers will use to move out of the danger zone once the tree begins to fall.
Ideally, there will be the second route of escape in the plan, if the space and surrounding topography allow it. This way the workers can move away from the tree safely even if it falls in an unplanned direction that would make the main route dangerous to use.
4. Rigging Aids
When a tree is growing too close to something else, such as your house or a tree you don't want to damage, then rigging may be necessary to ensure the tree falls along the desired felling path. The workers typically begin by carefully removing all the limbs and lowering them to the ground with the rigging.
Once limbed, rigging is attached to the trunk at several points. A worker then takes the trunk down in segments, lowering each segment to the ground carefully, so that the tree won't fall in a direction that causes damage.
Contact a tree removal service if you need more help when it comes to removing large trees from a smaller property.
