Trees may need felling for a whole host of reasons. Perhaps you’ve got a diseased tree that isn’t going to recover. Or maybe you have a line of trees that need to come down due to building works. Either way, it’s not a simple case of hacking away with an axe and yelling “timber!”
To remove a tree safely, you need to equip yourself with the appropriate training, correct and reliable equipment and knowledge of the safe and effective tree felling techniques. With this package you’ll be qualified, competent and properly equipped; like us!
From essential preparation, to different types of tree felling cuts — we are tree surgeons, after all — we’re here to offer all the guidance you need so you can make informed decisions about professional tree removal.
What is tree felling?
In a nutshell, tree felling is the process of cutting a tree down by severing the trunk from the stump, leading it to ‘fall’. You might need to fell a tree that’s already at risk of falling to prevent safety risks, or you may be looking to remove a tree that’s otherwise standing tall and sturdy, but is blocking your access to sunlight.
Whatever the reason, it’s important to know that it’s a very controlled process. It involves careful planning, precise preparation, and very specialised skills — which is why it’s always safest to get support from professional commercial tree surgeons.
What tree cutting tools are needed for felling?
Another reason to book a professional when you need to fell a tree is equipment.
FISA Safety Guide 302 is one of the first documents our professional tree fellas will consider when looking to safely fell a tree. The Forest Industry Safety Accord (FISA) is a steering group of leading industry organisations that provide Safety Guides and Technical Notes for a variety of ground based tree felling operations. FISA 302 outlines the equipment needed for safe felling.
Tree surgeons who are used to felling day in, day out, will have their trusty tools ready to go. These include:
- Chainsaws: These are the most common tree felling tools, able to make short work of bringing big trees down.
- Felling lever: A lever or bar used to assist the falling tree.
- Hand saws and pole saws: These can be helpful for removing smaller branches before felling.
- Felling wedges: These handy tools can help make sure the tree falls in the right direction.
- Sledge hammer: This is used for knocking the wedges in from a safer distance; don’t want those fingers getting pinched by a ten tonne tree!
- Winches: You may need a winch to assist with directional control, so the tree falls where you want it to.
How to fell a tree: Where to start
Before a tree can be felled, it’s essential to make sure it’s safe for it to come down. Tree surgeons need to ensure that there are no obstacles that the tree could hit or get tangled in as it falls. This might include telephone lines or powerlines; which would be a costly mistake!
We do this by carrying out a site specific risk assessment of all works; ensuring the right people, the right equipment and the right methods are in place; minimising risk to our staff and the public.
Trees also have a natural lean, so this needs to be taken into account when determining the direction it needs to fall in and the method used to fell the tree. We can check this by walking a circle around the tree any eying the centre line from the top tip of the crown to the centre of the stump.
Assessing the situation will also help a tree surgeon decide which training, tools and techniques are going to be most suitable for the job at hand. Some folk are qualified for big trees, others just small trees. Don’t be afraid to ask to check the qualifications of a professional tree surgeon in order to ensure they have the relevant qualifications; otherwise their insurance might not back them up in the event things go wrong.
Once we know which direction to fell the tree in, we can clear the areas so there is a dedicated path, free from obstructions.
Tree felling techniques
Now that a path has been cleared, it’s time to get cutting…
Pruning
Before we can tackle the trunk, we need to make sure there are no branches and twigs that might get in the way. Pruning can be done with hand saws and pole saws, or on larger trees we might have to climb the tree and remove branches from rope and harness to make the tree fall a certain direction, or avoid a certain obstacle. We generally ensure the trunk is branch-free up to about shoulder height, allowing us to work with a clear section.
(Check out more on how our tree trimming and pruning services work)
North Cut
The first cut may not be the deepest, but it’s incredibly important. A V-shaped notch cut is made into the side of the tree facing the intended fall direction, usually at a 45-degree or 70-degree angle. The angle of this cut can affect how far away the tree stem lands; how easily the tree flops over; and also ensure it falls in the direction you want it to fall. Another reason why it is super important to instruct a qualified and competent professional.
Felling cut
After the notch cut, there are several types of tree felling cuts to choose from, depending on the tree’s size and circumstances.
- Straight from behind: This is a classic tree-felling technique that’s ideal for smaller trees. Using a chainsaw, we cut into the back of the tree (the opposite side to the notch cut), creating a straight cut through the trunk.
- Saved edge: Sawing through the full diameter of the trunk isn’t always the best tree-felling method. This technique involves sawing partway through the trunk from behind but ‘saving’ the opposite edge to stop the tree from falling backwards. A felling wedge can then help ensure the tree falls in the safest direction.
- Safe corner: Similar to a saved edge, this tree-felling technique leaves one corner of the tree uncut to help manage the direction it falls in more effectively. It also provides the opportunity to assess the cut before making the final slice.
- Bore cut: When dealing with a tree that has a backwards lean, a bore cut is a good technique to go for. We won’t bore you with the details too much, but this involves using the front of the chainsaw bar to cut into the tree and then rotating it to achieve the most suitable directional cut.
Bringing the tree down
With all of these tree felling techniques, the final portion of the uncut tree is known as the ‘hinge’. To bring the tree to the ground, we need to carefully cut through the hinge. Sometimes, a winch is used to guide the tree down slowly and safely, with minimal disruption to the surroundings. A good chainsaw operator can leave a hinge with the facility to steer the tree to the left or right as it falls; another reason to hire an ARB Approved contactor.
In many cases, we’ll also need to remove the stump to create a clear area. If this is something you might require, learn more about our stump removal service, and .
The Tree Fella is your go-to tree feller
If you need professional tree removal, whether at home or on a business site, our residential and commercial tree surgeons can get the job done swiftly and safely. We’re Arb Approved and have over 500 five-star reviews, which we’re rather proud of.
To find out more and have a chat about your tree felling requirements, please feel free to get in touch.