Any suggestions how to get this tree on the ground safely?

[drumminj]

Had some bad storms the past couple of days with strong winds. Thought we did okay with just a few small trees damaged (top broke off a small tulip poplar, a small oak got uprooted). But found this guy today right at the edge of our woods.

Not 100% sure on type of tree (elm?), but it's not anything I've encountered before -- it's 2/3 of the way over, with a break in the trunk -- 1/3 of it uprooted, the other 2/3 is still in the ground. The canopy is hung up on other trees - not sure if that hurts or helps.

I'm thinking to cut off the uprooted part first, but beyond that, not sure where to go. It's a large tree - maybe 18-24" dbh, so a lot of weight/energy to worry about, and not sure I can get over top of it to make a cut above the split.

It's close enough to the edge of the woods I can clear a path to get the tractor to it, but I can only see that helping skid it out once down.

Thoughts/suggestions? I do have a big enough saw for the job (Stihl 462)

 

[5030]

Be VERY careful, what I call a hanger and the trunk is under extreme compression. If that was on my land, I'd call a professional arborist and let him deal with it. That tree is just waiting to hurt you or possibly kill you if you lack the necessary skill to remove it. Don't believe your Kubota could handle it anyway. Lot of suspended weight there.

 

[Joel/ak]

Gotta agree with 5030. It's doable but very dangerous to a rookie ( like me). Could maybe try pulling it off the tree? That's usually what I try to do

 

[drumminj]

That tree is just waiting to hurt you or possibly kill you if you lack the necessary skill to remove it.

Yep, I've been staring at the photos this afternoon imaging all the ways the tree will try to kill me.

I'm sure there's something I'm not seeing, but I can't quite work out how it will go wrong if I start cutting through the part under tension on the split side of the trunk. Would the base of the trunk kick out? Given how far over it is, and hung up, that seems unlikely. What other devious ideas does this tree have???

 

[2manyrocks]

There is a lot of tension in that split part considering the weight of all the top that is now leveraged between the top hung in the trees and the root ball holding the other end. That's pretty dangerous in itself. The split trunk could splinter in different directions. The root ball might shift once the tension on it changes. Lot of variables to predict.

Having the top hung in the top of other trees makes it that much more dangerous. If the split part somehow becomes free of the root ball, it is difficult to say where the hung up top is going to land, possibly bringing down other branches from other trees, too.

It all looks big enough that you probably don't need to be standing anywhere nearby when any of this lets loose. Nor would I try pulling it with a 20' chain.

 

[MaxLee]

Had some bad storms the past couple of days with strong winds. Thought we did okay with just a few small trees damaged (top broke off a small tulip poplar, a small oak got uprooted). But found this guy today right at the edge of our woods.

Not 100% sure on type of tree (elm?), but it's not anything I've encountered before -- it's 2/3 of the way over, with a break in the trunk -- 1/3 of it uprooted, the other 2/3 is still in the ground. The canopy is hung up on other trees - not sure if that hurts or helps.

I'm thinking to cut off the uprooted part first, but beyond that, not sure where to go. It's a large tree - maybe 18-24" dbh, so a lot of weight/energy to worry about, and not sure I can get over top of it to make a cut above the split.

It's close enough to the edge of the woods I can clear a path to get the tractor to it, but I can only see that helping skid it out once down.

Thoughts/suggestions? I do have a big enough saw for the job (Stihl 462)

Widow maker. Any way to get to the trees that are holding it up? Clear a path and try to get rope on the far end and pull it down with tractor? Neighbor has acres of woods with oak trees 1/2 down like this. Many up rooted 1/2 over on surrounding trees. All I see is many years of free firewood LOL. But I want to be around to enjoy the heat. Becarfeul

 

[5030]

Depending on what species it is, it could 'barber pole', split up the trunk as you cut into it. Why take the chance, have someone else (arborist) cut it. Then you can buck it up on the ground and remove the canopy from the other tree if, it don't come out when the trunk is cut.

A couple hundred bucks is a helluva lot cheaper than you getting hurt or killed in my book. I quit cutting storm damages wood in our woodlot a long time ago. In my case because I sharpen chipper knives and grind saw chains for local arborists, all I have to do is call one and they come out and put them on the ground and I buck them and limb them and then the limbs go in my ever present burn pile.

 

[drumminj]

Any way to get to the trees that are holding it up? Clear a path and try to get rope on the far end and pull it down with tractor?

It appears to mostly be a smaller tree holding it up at the moment, but no safe way to get in to cut it down (I'd be right under the hung up tree). I'm sure I can get a rope on it, but doubt I'd be able to get any movement with the tractor. Probably the safest thing to try though, so will see if I can have a go at it.

 

[drumminj]

A couple hundred bucks is a helluva lot cheaper than you getting hurt or killed in my book.

Absolutely agree. But also looking to learn and get better with a saw. This may not be the learning opportunity to pursue, but still curious to hear what folks see, what to look out for, etc.

Appreciate all the feedback so far!

 

[Joel/ak]

If it's not in the way, let mother nature take its course. Leave it or pay someone

 

[MaxLee]

It appears to mostly be a smaller tree holding it up at the moment, but no safe way to get in to cut it down (I'd be right under the hung up tree). I'm sure I can get a rope on it, but doubt I'd be able to get any movement with the tractor. Probably the safest thing to try though, so will see if I can have a go at it.

Doesnt hurt to try pulling it down , that way your not under it. Let us know how you make out.

 

[redman135]

Since you are asking, you don't have the knowledge to SAFLY bring the tree down.
You are looking at a WIDOW MAKER tree. Get a pro and watch how carefully they treat this tree. The partial split could "barber's chair" and "jump" in any direction and a surprising distance.

If you don't want to pay for a pro can you leave the tree as is for another storm to finish the job?

 

[MaxLee]

Since you are asking, you don't have the knowledge to SAFLY bring the tree down.
You are looking at a WIDOW MAKER tree. Get a pro and watch how carefully they treat this tree. The partial split could "barber's chair" and "jump" in any direction and a surprising distance.

If you don't want to pay for a pro can you leave the tree as is for another storm to finish the job?

Local farmer isn't with us anymore more because of a widow maker. I have that entrenched in my head.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

If you like exercise these rope saws are great. Use heavy leather gloves and throw the sandbag high up where it's 14"-16" diameter. You stand 20+ feet away so it's safe. The only thing I have to be careful with is you don't want it to pinch...
The less upper part you cut the safer it is to cut lower part.
In fact looking at your picture you probably would be able to rope cut where it's split, it's probably only half diameter.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I wouldn't want to cut close to that tree either!

 

[MaxLee]

If you like exercise these rope saws are great. Use heavy leather gloves and throw the sandbag high up where it's 14"-16" diameter. You stand 20+ feet away so it's safe. The only thing I have to be careful with is you don't want it to pinch...
The less upper part you cut the safer it is to cut lower part.
In fact looking at your picture you probably would be able to rope cut where it's split, it's probably only half diameter. View attachment 816073

Neat Idea... that will give ya work LOL.

 

[MaxLee]

I wouldn't want to cut close to that tree either!

Question is???? Is the tree held up by the trees around it? Or it the split part still strong enough to keep it in the air? I would rope it and give it a few tugs with tractor and see what it does. From a distance of course

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Question is???? Is the tree held up by the trees around it? Or it the split part still strong enough to keep it in the air? I would rope it and give it a few tugs with tractor and see what it does. From a distance of course

Good idea. It may just snap & fall.
Couldn't hurt if you're far away.

 

[2manyrocks]

As frequently as we're having storms in Middle Tennessee, another storm could come along in a few days and finish it off.

 

[drumminj]

As frequently as we're having storms in Middle Tennessee, another storm could come along in a few days and finish it off.

That's very true/possible, given the weather the past week