Question about cutting a leaning tree...

[Stubby]

My SIL wants to eventually have this ash tree cut down...is pretty much dead. But...she asked me if I wanted to cut the left-most part of it, myself (I burn wood...) then have a tree company finish the job.

There is plenty of room to fell the tree.

This might save her a few bucks, and I don't have the experience or wherewithal to attempt the rest of it, as well as dealing with all the branches/cleanup.

My question is...because of the lean of that segment, do I have to cut a notch, or just start at the topside and cut downward? Any chance of a barber chair mishap?





FYI...That clump/bush (stump) between the tree and the shed is that tree's twin, which was cut down about 3 years ago. It measured 48" at the base.

Ideas? Thank you.

Rich

 

[Mad Professor]

Notch then a borecut to the back?

Watch your topside if it has any EAB killed dead stuff upstairs.

 

[Stubby]

Notch then a borecut to the back?

Watch your topside if it has any EAB killed dead stuff upstairs.

Well..I didn't know what a borecut was, so I watched several videos demonstrating them.

Thea seems to be exactly what I should do. It'll be my first one, obviously.

Lots of EAB damage, here...

Thank you.

Rich

 

[dandan111]

I cut all that bush out and kill that stump. And cut the left side of that tree. The branches leaning towards the shed I’d take a good look at. Might have to be sectioned.
Things will look way better after you clean that bush out.

 

[Stubby]

I cut all that bush out and kill that stump. And cut the left side of that tree. The branches leaning towards the shed I’d take a good look at. Might have to be sectioned.
Things will look way better after you clean that bush out.

Sounds good...trimming the bush and cutting the left side. But..that's all that I'm going to attempt.

She will hire a professional for the rest ..

Thank you.

Rich

 

[ElevatorGuy]

just start at the topside and cut downward? Any chance of a barber chair mishap?

This sounds like you shouldn’t be cutting any trees down. It’s not going save her any money when you hurt yourself. How long have you been burning wood?

 

[Stubby]

This sounds like you shouldn’t be cutting any trees down. It’s not going save her any money when you hurt yourself. How long have you been burning wood?

Well, I've cut down over 100 trees while clearing our property in NH.

Is the left side of that tree so dangerous to cut that with some advice, I shouldn't do it?
It would be one thing if I just went ahead and did it on a whim, but that's why I'm asking for some guidance.

We've been burning wood since our house was built in 1985.

Rich

 

[Del_]

It's kind of scary to see someone who has what appears to very limited tree felling experience come here and get advice to make an advanced cut on what looks like a high risk tree felling.

At a minimum the questioner should practice the bore cut on a half dozen or more non leaning trees to get the technique down.

And then there is the question of what other risk factors this tree presents that the questioner may be overlooking due to inexperience.

 

[Stubby]

It's kind of scary to see someone who has what appears to very limited tree felling experience come here and get advice to make an advanced cut on what looks like a high risk tree felling.

At a minimum the questioner should practice the bore cut on a half dozen or more non leaning trees to get the technique down.

And then there is the question of what other risk factors this tree presents that the questioner may be overlooking due to inexperience.

Fair enough...

I'm the type of guy that will try things, but if I am convinced that it's beyond logic for me to attempt, I will not attempt it. I don't want to die, yet...

I will definitely practice the bore cut on some safer trees, just because I want to learn this. I understand the bar approach angle thing. I've been a metal fabricator my whole life, and using hand grinders with cutting wheels has the same concept....kickbacks/disc shattering can occur.

The responses here are sinking in, and I will most likely not attempt this.

Thank you for your reply.

Rich

 

[dandan111]

After you clean that stump up I’d paint some killer on it so it doesn’t
sprout again.

 

[Del_]

Fair enough...

I'm the type of guy that will try things, but if I am convinced that it's beyond logic for me to attempt, I will not attempt it. I don't want to die, yet...

I will definitely practice the bore cut on some safer trees, just because I want to learn this. I understand the bar approach angle thing. I've been a metal fabricator my whole life, and using hand grinders with cutting wheels has the same concept....kickbacks/disc shattering can occur.

The responses here are sinking in, and I will most likely not attempt this.

Thank you for your reply.

Rich

You have the right mindset!

 

[fishdrivel]

After you clean that stump up I’d paint some killer on it so it doesn’t
sprout again.

It's possible that the 2 trunks share root systems. Not something an inexperienced "arborist" would easily be able to tell.
If you paint the one stump you may kill the other also.

 

[Del_]

It's possible that the 2 trunks share root systems. Not something an inexperienced "arborist" would easily be able to tell.
If you paint the one stump you may kill the other also.

True.

And even if they are separate trees they most certainly would have root grafter together over the years.

 

[dandan111]

Killing that wouldn’t be a concern to me. The part leaning towards shed would come down now or in the spring.

 

[ElevatorGuy]

Well, I've cut down over 100 trees while clearing our property in NH.

Is the left side of that tree so dangerous to cut that with some advice, I shouldn't do it?
It would be one thing if I just went ahead and did it on a whim, but that's why I'm asking for some guidance.

We've been burning wood since our house was built in 1985.

Rich

Not sure how someone that has dropped 100 trees comes up with cutting downward into that stem. Bore cutting isn’t a technique for an amateur either. I’d hire that job out if I were you.

 

[PapaWhitebeard]

This sounds like you shouldn’t be cutting any trees down. It’s not going save her any money when you hurt yourself. How long have you been burning wood?

THIS. Ask yourself… “is the risk worth your life?”

One of my mentors used to say as we crossed the street from the parking lot to the site… “Crossing this street is the most dangerous thing that’s gonna happen today. Everybody got it?”

If you aren’t trained. If you have questions.. if you even have a funny feeling in your gut… stop what you’re doing and re-assess. If you don’t know what a bore cut is then absolutely you’re being very smart to let someone else handle this problem for you. It’s wise of you.

4 foot diameter bigass tree like that… well done asking some questions and getting some answers. But the answer here is “you’re right—let someone else do it.”

Well done. It’s not worth your life. Or losing a limb. Or having to go to the hospital or whatever.

 

[PapaWhitebeard]

It's kind of scary to see someone who has what appears to very limited tree felling experience come here and get advice to make an advanced cut on what looks like a high risk tree felling.

At a minimum the questioner should practice the bore cut on a half dozen or more non leaning trees to get the technique down.

And then there is the question of what other risk factors this tree presents that the questioner may be overlooking due to inexperience.

This is not the tree to learn on for sure. But half a dozen practice note cuts WON’T do it. Even if someone masters the bore cut this job has way too many factors for someone without experience felling trees like these.

He’s not by himself 500 miles from the nearest pro in Alaska. He’s not on mars. Someone can do this job for him.

Even if he were a young guy that wanted to make this his vocation he shouldn’t be coming at this problem by himself. We’re talking about metric *tons* wood and a bunch of razors whizzing around at >12,000 RPM… not for the inexperienced, right?

 

[Chucksta]

EAB means one thing.. The Ash tree(s) are dead.. Even if they still have foliage that looks healthy, They're dead, they just don't know it yet. That also means that they can become more dangerous to cut the longer the tree has been infected.
The left side of the tree scares me, and I don't scare easily. If your SIL is going to pay a service to, as you put it "finish the rest of the job", that implies that the tree company will drop the rest of the tree, if you drop the left side and process that wood for yourself. Then the tree service would get rid of the rest of the tree.
Why not let the tree service drop the whole tree, or just the left side, and you process all the wood? Ash is the only hardwood that you can burn the day you cut it, no ageing necessary.
You'd get a lot of wood, and it'd probably be revenue neutral to your SIL, or cheaper.... and you'd be a whole lot safer.
That tree is one of the ones that I wouldn't touch myself.... over my skill set.. I'd pay a licensed and insured Arborist to drop it.

 

[Stubby]

Just for fun...here are some old pics of when the tree next to it was cut down...

The tree company had just arrived. this pic was taken from my back deck. SIL lives right there...










I ended up with all that wood.

Rich

 

[PapaWhitebeard]

Just for fun...here are some old pics of when the tree next to it was cut down...

The tree company had just arrived. this pic was taken from my back deck. SIL lives right there...
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I ended up with all that wood.

Rich

Yep. They threw a line up there, pulled a rope up, ascended it with a saw, limbed it and topped it. And nobody died, right? And you got a bunch of wood. Nice going!

So… when you get a good result in life… wash rinse repeat. Maybe call those guys again… get all that wood. Don’t end up getting hurt. That would suck, eh?