Best way to tackle this tree ? (pics)

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Todd 2

Todd 2

Feeling the Heat
Sep 17, 2012
418
NE Ohio
I have a tree in my back yard that has become more of a problem than needed, it is crowding out my smaller row of nice trees, has no shade value on the north east end of house and has a 5 main trunk split that I'm starting to question when it storms. I have dropped several trees in the past with some interesting configurations and 4 of the sections of this tree I know I can drop safely but the one trunk that has a slight lean towards the garage has me in question. Smaller trees I have climbed and tied off with a 200 ft heavy rope, notch and back cut and pulled them down with the big truck with great success. This trunk is 18" and pushing 60 ft.
I don't mind climbing to tie off but I have many of hours with a saw in hand and feet on the ground if you know what I'm talking about. ;)
Any ideas on a way to tackle this with out hiring some one to clime and cut ? My past method has worked great with the rope and truck but this is a little bigger than a straggler or average dead tree I pull over. tree11.jpg tree21.jpg tree11.jpg tree21.jpg tree31.jpg tree41.jpg tree11.jpg tree21.jpg tree31.jpg tree41.jpg Thanks, Todd
 
Sorry about the x2 pics don't know how I managed that.
 
On that one, I'd use steel cable, then you can make it do any thing you want. Rope is hard to tell how hard your pulling, it keeps stretching. About the time the saw man is almost through with the cut, your in no mans world if the tree isn't yielding to the pressure and your afraid to pull harder for fear the rope will snap. Been there, it's white knuckle time.
 
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I agree with charlie. A steel cable would be best if you're inclined to tackle this yourself.

Do you have gear to climb yourself? That would be the best way to get it down
 
Charlie2 said:
On that one, I'd use steel cable, then you can make it do any thing you want.
Click to expand...
My rope is somewhere in the 28,000 pound break strength (good stuff) but the cable would give you better feel of what is going on, good idea, thanks
 
bigbarf48 said:
Do you have gear to climb yourself? That would be the best way to get it down
Click to expand...
That would be the best way, however "myself" in a tree with a saw is the unsafe part of it. lol Thanks
 
Work on the easier trunks first, that aren't leaning towards the garage, then flush cut those stumps before tackling the last one. Doesn't look like it would be too bad of a side lean - leave a little extra in the hinge, and use rope/wedges to fell it.
 
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BEST WAY? Get out your check book and hire an insured pro. Beyond that and what I would do(my check book is a little light for the bucket truck expense) Do as written above and spend a good deal of time with the saw still in the garage just looking at it from all angles before going for it.
 
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I can't tell from the pics - are any of the trunks leaning towards the house and long enough to reach it? Doesn't look so. If not, why not drop each section one-by-one?
 
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Dynamite! Be sure to record it on video for us... Haha good luck with that one.. I'm too scared to cut anything that could hit a house..
 
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Whatever you decide make sure you high stump it. Those multi trunked trees can have unseen rot down by the crotch that will ruin yer day.
 
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Splitter 013.jpg Splitter 014.jpg I will not use rope near a house. I will however use cable. I agree with Shawn get the easy ones out of the way and pull the last leaner sideways away from the house.
This had a pretty good lean into that little building but the cable and a truck on the other side of the brush it went where I wanted it.
 
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Todd 2 said:
I have a tree in my back yard that has become more of a problem than needed, it is crowding out my smaller row of nice trees, has no shade value on the north east end of house and has a 5 main trunk split that I'm starting to question when it storms. I have dropped several trees in the past with some interesting configurations and 4 of the sections of this tree I know I can drop safely but the one trunk that has a slight lean towards the garage has me in question. Smaller trees I have climbed and tied off with a 200 ft heavy rope, notch and back cut and pulled them down with the big truck with great success. This trunk is 18" and pushing 60 ft.
I don't mind climbing to tie off but I have many of hours with a saw in hand and feet on the ground if you know what I'm talking about. ;)
Any ideas on a way to tackle this with out hiring some one to clime and cut ? My past method has worked great with the rope and truck but this is a little bigger than a straggler or average dead tree I pull over.View attachment 137879 View attachment 137880 View attachment 137879 View attachment 137880 View attachment 137881 View attachment 137882 View attachment 137879 View attachment 137880 View attachment 137881 View attachment 137882 Thanks, Todd
Click to expand...
I'd call some professional tree company. Let them take it down, chunk it up. You can split and stack and burn some nice there. Is that hickory reckon?
 
Shawn and Fifelaker have it right ~ drop the trunks that aren't over your garage first. With them out of the way, you can cable and cut the iffy one so it falls away from the structure.
 
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Butcher said:
Whatever you decide make sure you high stump it. Those multi trunked trees can have unseen rot down by the crotch that will ruin yer day.
Click to expand...
That is in the plan I have seen that in the woods on a few, cut one low and two fell. Thanks
 
If you are going to have a professional visit to grind the stump, consider letting the pro drop it. Tell them that it's NOT a "removal"--just drop it, grind the stump, and you (the homeowner) will handle the cleanup. That often saves a lot of $$.
 
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I agree with the rest, hire an insured pro. I have an identical set up in my front yard that has a limb growing over my roof. I like to tackle challenging projects myself but some things are left for a professional that has the right equipment, manpower and insurance
 
articulating aerial man-lift. Take it down from the top in sections. I did this for a friend on some honey locusts that were hanging over her house. You can set-up a zip line to run the tree sections down safely if it is overhanging. This one looks like you could just start cutting and dropping sections of the tree from the top down. A good articulating manlift and a lightweight saw and this tree is cut up for firewood in a few hours.
 
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mstoelton said:
articulating aerial man-lift. Take it down from the top in sections. I did this for a friend on some honey locusts that were hanging over her house. You can set-up a zip line to run the tree sections down safely if it is overhanging. This one looks like you could just start cutting and dropping sections of the tree from the top down. A good articulating manlift and a lightweight saw and this tree is cut up for firewood in a few hours.
Click to expand...
That's how i do all of the trees i have to take down. If a branch is not directly above anything and your lift can take you to the highest branch, well that's a gravy day for me :cool:
Also the zip line sounds like a super safe, efficient way to do overhanging branches. Kudos to that man.
 
mstoelton said:
articulating aerial man-lift. Take it down from the top in sections. I did this for a friend on some honey locusts that were hanging over her house. You can set-up a zip line to run the tree sections down safely if it is overhanging. This one looks like you could just start cutting and dropping sections of the tree from the top down. A good articulating manlift and a lightweight saw and this tree is cut up for firewood in a few hours.
Click to expand...

I like this idea ^

It doesn't look like the tree really overhangs the house, so I bet you could make quick work using a lift
 
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