Do You Know How to Cut Down Trees Safely?
Safely cutting down trees requires proper preparation and precision. Mark’s Tree & Stump Removal in Roanoke, VA, can help you do that. When it comes to DIY landscape projects, you can do some yourself. However, others need a professional to get it done correctly. Planting trees? Sure! But what about safely cutting down trees?
This month, we will explain how to cut down trees safely. We will also discuss the proper safety gear to wear while cutting trees. Mark’s Tree & Stump Removal is proud to educate our customers on safely cutting down trees.
Follow These Tree Cutting Safety Tips
In theory, safely cutting down trees seems relatively straightforward. However, in reality, that is not the case. Cutting trees is a dangerous job, and it’s essential to take proper safety precautions. Here are some safety tips that our team of professional arborists follow when cutting trees:
Wear Safety Gear: We will discuss this in greater detail later, but it’s important to know that safety is critical. You need to wear some absolutely essential safety gear for cutting trees or any chainsaw work. Not wearing safety gear can put yourself or anyone around you in danger.
Estimate the Cutting Zone: Before cutting trees, we always estimate where a tree will fall using the “ax handle trick.” This trick is done by holding an ax handle at arm’s length with one eye closed and walking backward. Once it’s even with the tree, we are able to see our cutting zone. It’s only an estimate, so allow extra room if there is another smaller tree or something else in the way.
Clear a Cutting Zone: After we find our cutting zone, we clear away any brush around the trunk. Clearing the area around the tree will create two escape routes on the non-falling side of the tree. The last thing anyone needs in this situation is to trip while walking away from a falling tree.
Plan The Notch: Now that we have our cutting zone established, the next thing is to plan the notch. We do this by sighting along the handle of the chain saw until it’s pointing forward toward the fall direction. The point where the bar touches the bark will be the center of the notch.
Cut The Notch: When cutting the notch, we always make the top cut first and then the bottom. For the bottom cut, it’s essential to adjust your hand to control the throttle with your thumb. The wedge will drop out if you meet the top-notch perfectly.
Make The Felling Cut: The final step we take in safely cutting down trees is making the felling cut. Our team will score a line connecting the apex of the notch on both sides as a cutting guide. Once the tree starts leaning, we pull the saw free, set the chain brake, and walk away. Keep an eye on the tree, so you can react if it doesn’t fall as you planned. Never take your eyes off a falling tree.
When cutting trees, it’s crucial to use the right saw. Using the wrong saw could make cutting trees more challenging to accomplish. Fine Power Tools shows us the seven best saws for safely cutting down trees.
Use Proper Safety Gear for Cutting Trees
Safety isn’t a word you take for granted when cutting trees. You must wear proper protective equipment when cutting down trees. Here are a few essential safety items you must-have for any chainsaw work:
Earmuffs
Gloves
Helmet
Kevlar Chaps
Protective Clothing
Safety Glasses
Work Boots
Our team of professional arborists always uses this safety gear for cutting trees. We want to protect ourselves from injury while safely cutting down trees. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that arborists have head-to-toe protection.
How Can I Keep Safe While Cutting Trees?
When cutting trees, not only do injuries occur, but fatalities can happen. Even trained professionals have been injured on the job. Before touching a single broken branch, make sure you have the right equipment and understand the process. Not taking safety precautions and having the proper equipment can make cutting down trees more difficult. If you aren’t sure about anything, please feel free to contact your local arborist or us.
We Offer Tree Cutting Service in Roanoke, VA
Cutting trees can be a dangerous task to do alone. Why not let the experts take care of it? Here at Mark’s Tree & Stump Removal, we proudly provide tree-cutting service to Roanoke, VA, and the surrounding areas. For more than 20 years, we have provided our loyal customers in Roanoke, VA, with tree cutting services. In addition, we have also provided our customers with advice, tips, and tricks on safely cutting down trees. As we mentioned before, safety is absolutely critical when cutting trees. Our team of highly-trained professionals will come to your home and safely cut down any tree.
Our staff’s experience in safely cutting down trees provides substantial benefits to our customers. Mark’s Tree & Stump Removal also offers 24-hour emergency tree service and free estimates for residential and commercial properties. We also proudly offer active military members and senior citizens discounts on our tree-cutting service. Please visit the tree service page on our website to learn more about Mark’s Tree & Stump Removal’s service.
For more information on safely cutting down trees, give Mark’s Tree & Stump Removal in Roanoke, VA, a call at (540) 330-4761. Our team brings more than 20 years of experience in the tree service industry to the job every day. We take great pride in educating our customers on safely cutting down trees.
