Advice needed - tree felling

[amashinga]

I have a tree that is dying near my power lines that needs to come down or eventually it will probably come down across the lines. It is a young douglas fir, probably around 1.5 feet at the base, but like most of these firs, even this young they are very very tall. I need to control the drop pretty closely.

I was considering putting a cable half way up the tree, running a long stretch to a pully placed at the drop point, and then enough distance to put me out of harms way. I might have enough to just pull the tree down. I live on a mountain in the Pacific NW so the ground is pockets of dirt, moss and mulch, and this time of year is pretty spongy. Alternately I could put enough pressure on to ensure the tree fell where I needed it.

Am I completely nuts, or does this sound reasonable ? I dont want to do anything unsafe, but I dont have spare cash to throw at a faller right now if I can avoid it.

 

[psj12]

The power company will fell it for free if you convince them it is in their best interest. I called them out and they took down two of mine and carted off all the debris.

 

[Airic]

Don't risk it, call the power company. They will do it for free. They took 6 trees down on my property and were pretty easy to work with.

 

[RWolf]

Call the power company. It's in their best interest to cut it down.

 

[sixdogs]

I am familiar with accident injuries and have seen a fair number of things that went wrong with dropping trees in a situation in which nothing could go wrong. As well, I have cut a lot of wood over the years so I am sort-of clued in.
My though would be to go with the above post regarding the power company. That will likely work. Second option would be to let nature take it's course and wait till it falls over. That could take way longer than you figure.
Most people fall on the way from the cut--and get cut, some drop trees on vehicles and a few catch the live wire. I can think of better ways to go than bleeding to death on a power line right-of-way. Just my personal opinion.

 

[LBrown59]

The power company will fell it for free if you convince them it is in their best interest. I called them out and they took down two of mine and carted off all the debris.

Rite on /let them worry about it.

 

[MikeInEburg]

Just to echo the others... it is not worth the heartache/headache/stress. If the power company won't do it and you've just gotta drop it, hire a pro to drop it. Or do what I do and ignore it.
Mike

 

[skidoo]

I agree with the others to let the power company do it if they will. That said, I just did a similar fell this week. I thought it was too far from the power line for them to consider it. But, my Doug Fir was about 12" from the house, and there were three similar sized Ponderosa pine trees on the other side blocking any fall that way. So, I had a very narrow window of felling direction.

Mine was about 32" diameter and I did just what you were suggesting. After watching a youtube video of an idiot pulling a tree down onto his pickup, I Got a rope around the tree about 25' up, then hooked it up to the jeep winch and a snatch block to another pine tree in the direction of fall. I did not like having the jeep connected to that tree if it went wrong, I could just see it fling the jeep around. But, I figured the rope would break first. The jeep was parked on the other side of the three big pine trees so there was no way it could fall on it. After putting a little force with the winch/rope line, my son and I cut the notch for direction, then cut the hinge and used a couple wedges. Using caution and being slightly fearful, the tree fell within inches of my target.

 

[newbury]

Based on the OP's statement, with no mention of chain saw, power company is the final solution. However if the OP has trees like that it may be good for them to obtain a chainsaw and practice "pounding posts" - you put a post out where you want the tree to fall. Once you get good at pounding posts in the ground with tall trees then you should be able to fall them when needed.

 

[MarkV]

I have dropped trees using a cable and snatch block and find it pretty safe. The tree doesn't sound that big so I would go for it. Actually that size tree I would let my loader control the direction of fall. That also lets me cut the hinge cut while standing under the bucket to block any falling dead limbs.

Here the power company will not talk to you until the tree has come down and taken out the line.

MarkV

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Have you called the power company yet as that is what most of the reply's have been. That should be your first option. If you drop it and it takes out power lines then you can get the bill for repairs if you are still alive to see it. I have dropped plenty of tree's. When they get close to the power lines I have the owner call the power company first. Sometimes they won't do it right away. They contract out that work in my area.
Electrical burns from those types of lines are some of the worst burns. If the Power company doesn't do it then get the job bid out by a tree service. Ask for bids with clean up of the branches or without clean up. You can save a lot of money if you don't mind getting dirty hauling branches. If you have a spot to burn branches then do that. It could save you money. Renting a chipper is an option but that probably would cost you more than having the tree guys chip.
My 2 cents worth.
PS: Where are you located? It sounds like Washington. Puget Sound Energy does contract that work out and it shouldn't cost you anything if it is really going to come down soon on their lines.

 

[mrob2012003]

I had some 80ft pines that had died due to pine bark beetles. The power company finally took them out after a little convincing. If the tree is tall enough to hit the power line when it falls that's the only convincing you need. Just stay on top of them. As far as the cable goes It works well, just need to make sure you have good tension on it. Notch the tree in the direction you want it to fall then start pulling as you cut the other end.

 

[Kfbeal]

The power company should have an easement and policy to maintain that to prevent trees getting in the power lines. There is also a minimum approach distance around power lines and in most cases it's ten feet.

 

[Botabill]

I've cut a lot of trees so my opinion is based on lots of experience so you may choose to err on the side of caution and not do this. With out seeing the lay of the tree and land it sounds like a simple and fun felling. Hook a tow line on your tractor and mid way up the tree to prevent it from going the wrong way. Apply a little (LITTLE) bit of tension to the safety line. Notch it, back cut a bit wedge it then carefully cut some more keeping in mind a safe escape route. If the tree shows signs of falling the wrong way at any point in cutting get on the tractor and persuade it to follow you by apply some power. Never rock a tree. If you do it's a sure bet it will decide to give way on the backward rock.

 

[frank_f15]

as the others have said , let the power co. do it. if you try to do it and make a boo,boo, they may hold you liable!

 

[silverdollar6]

Somebody should tell him to call the power company.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Lets say the power company wont cut it and you want to: First I would get an accurate measurement of the height. You can do this by measureing the length of the shadow and comparing it with a shadow from a known dimension. Easiest if you get a 1:1 ratio for your know yard stick etc. Then you know exactly how far you need to keep all your equipment. Tensioning the tree to fall in the direction needed is advisable but not necessary if the tree is straight and not leaning. Also dont attempt if the wind is not completely calm unless the wind is blowing in the direction of the desired fall. Follow the advise of notching, wedging etc and you should be ok.

However: Call the power company and get them to cut it for you. If it is as you said, possibility that it will fall on the lines, then they will for sure cut if for you.

 

[F.L. Jennings]

I have lived in the country for 40 years, owned a sawmill, felled scores of trees, and handled wood all of my adult life. With that being said, if the tree is on their turf or so close that it endangers any of their infrastructure, let them (power utility) be responsible for it instead of you.

The power line to our home is about 3/8 of a mile long, all on my property. My neighbor had a tree that was dead and had broken off at the stump and the only thing holding it up was the limbs of an adjacent tree. This dead tree had a slight lean toward the power line. My neighbor and I looked at it and we both decided to let the power company take care of it - which they did. If you don't have to do it yourself then don't.

Trees can do things as they are falling or being felled that you never dreamed of. If the power company disclaims responsibility then it wouldn't cost much to get a liscensed and certified arborist to do the work. They are insured and the cost wouldn't be much. JMO.

 

[sixdogs]

Somebody should tell him to call the power company.

We're working on it.

 

[arrow]

If you've only taken down a tree or two in your life, then I'd say you're nuts to contemplate a controlled opposite drop. If you have some experience taking down trees and you've done controlled opposite drops where a wrong direction fall was not a critical venture (such as only wanting to avoid a hang up on another tree ) then certainly its a plausible venture. You can take chances if you wish but I would not consider tethering a tree with only enough rope to get to the fall point tip. You need at least a length that gets you 20-30 ft beyond the tip lay at least a 90* angle to the fall being accomplished with a snatch block. Steady pressure with gradual cutting gets it done but you would already know that or I should say if you're considering doing the job you would already know that based on experience. What is a bit disconcerting is you having to ask if its nuts in the first place. You may have known the answer even before you posted the question better than anybody here. Sometimes saving money can get more expensive than one ever dreamed especially if the cost moves into another realm beyond money.