Question
Hi Jim,A 40ft rowan tree is dead bark all around fell off tree is dead and might be dangerous.I cant afford to get it removed,I will do it myself.  How should I go about it?any advice would be great.  Kind regards  Scott

Answer
Of course it does take a bit of know-how. Don抰 even think of tackling the job if you抮e not the handyman type. You really do have to know what you抮e doing (like make sure vehicles and other objects are out of the way.) Also make sure the tree isn抰 in the line of electrical wires or buildings that could be damaged by it抯 falling.

Besides having the tools, you抣l have to have good judgement. For tools, you抣l probably want a chain saw. You may know someone that owns one or check at an equipment rental outlet. You also might be able to use a crosscut saw or bow saw if you can find either one and if the tree isn抰 too huge. If you can cut the tree with a handsaw, the tree can抰 be very big and you抣l have no problems anyway.

Plan on using the wind and create some guides by tying cable or rope to something large and heavy. You抣l be cutting the way the tree is leaning and if it抯 rotten, you抣l have no control because there is absolutely no way to hold onto it.


To start, you抣l be making a notch on the trunk at the height you抎 like to cut. The tree will be falling towards the notch so make sure you put it in the right spot. Make the notch one-third of the diameter and one-third of the width of the tree. A tree that抯 9 inches in diameter should have a notch about three inches high by three inches deep.


Start cutting on the side opposite the notch. Take your time, follow your guides and everything should fall into place.


That抯 not saying it will fall into place. If you do lose control, there抯 not much you can do except get out of the way.


That still doesn抰 guarantee that everything will end up fine. There are innumerable things that can go wrong. The tree could fall the wrong way or it could get hung up on nearby objects.


If you抮e not experienced with a chainsaw, you could have problems with things like 搆ickback?if the saw doesn抰 have safety equipment.


There抯 also safety equipment that should be worn as well and it抯 actually a requirement for most professionals.


Got some doubts about doing it yourself? Hire the professional. The peace of mind and the professional approach will be worth it in the end.


After all, yelling, 揟imber!?really isn抰 all it抯 cracked up to be.