How would you fall this?

[Bob in W NC]

View attachment 748972
This cottonwood pulled it’s rootball and leaned over. I say leaned because it’s roots and a whole lotta earth are still attached. Then about 12’ from that it’s resting (left side of pic) on a berm built as a range backstop. Then you see the rest of this up in the air still. It is not supported to any degree by the limbs. Most of them are barely making contact with the ground. its held in space like this by the rootball still attached to the earth on the side it hinged down, the weight of the earth attached to the side that came up and where the truck is resting on the berm. It’s a big green tree.
I think my plan is to clear out a spot on the back of the berm where I have lots of room to escape and work free of obstruction. Notch the underside about 8’ from the rootball. And then slowly cut from the top down towards the notch. At some point it’s gonna want to have the heavy top start to bend down to the ground and the weighted root ball snap back upright.
I don’t know that I want to limb the top as I don’t know how much pulling up the root ball is doing vs the weight of the limbs holding it down.
lotta energy stored in this mess. Anyone else have thoughts on approach?

I have done quite a bit of this type and scale of work here in the mountains outside of Asheville. If I am interpreting your post correctly, this would be my approach.
Clear a walking route to where the tree rests on the berm. Make a 6" of so cut from the bottom on the right side of the berm contact point, in a comfortable and stable standing position, then finish the cut from the top down. Go slowly as you approach finishing that top down cut and gauge what is going to happen. Most likely just a quick uprighting on the root ball and base of tree. Then fell the base log if you wish, or leave it for habitat. Deal with the upper portion according to your skills and equipment.

 

[Kschwennsen]

cut from the top down on the trunk by the root ball slowly and let the tree settle as it's cut. Don't put your head over the saw when finishing the cut.

 

[Varmintmist]

Bottom notch where you can stand. Plunge cut everything leaving a tab about 2 inches or so thick on top, nip the tab.
Same as a leaner. I wouldnt be worried about a barber chair so much as the rootball figuring out it just lost a lot of weight and dragging half of the tree with it. Saw, limbs, and you included. With the plunge cut done, when you nip the tab, the stump and tree will be apart. Things will still happen fast if they do so pay attention.

 

[JRH02]

There are just so many gotchas and I don't think any single way is best unless you are on site and have experience. The upside is cottonwood is notoriously stringy but strong so probably not a break and whiplash unless tied off to a BIG machine. Can be full of water and heavy++ as is this one. Personally, I'd leave it. Burn piles in the root ball and wait until it lightens up. Gosh I'd love to have a big cottonwood to add to the neighbor's back stop as there have been many worbling ricochets of his range/backstop in my direction. Of course, they were not from him. Tell me that when I am on the chicken house doing roof repairs and rounds are zinging through the trees above me and the wife is commanding me off the roof. Dang stupid city people come to play.

 

[Hermio]

View attachment 748972
This cottonwood pulled it’s rootball and leaned over. I say leaned because it’s roots and a whole lotta earth are still attached. Then about 12’ from that it’s resting (left side of pic) on a berm built as a range backstop. Then you see the rest of this up in the air still. It is not supported to any degree by the limbs. Most of them are barely making contact with the ground. its held in space like this by the rootball still attached to the earth on the side it hinged down, the weight of the earth attached to the side that came up and where the truck is resting on the berm. It’s a big green tree.
I think my plan is to clear out a spot on the back of the berm where I have lots of room to escape and work free of obstruction. Notch the underside about 8’ from the rootball. And then slowly cut from the top down towards the notch. At some point it’s gonna want to have the heavy top start to bend down to the ground and the weighted root ball snap back upright.
I don’t know that I want to limb the top as I don’t know how much pulling up the root ball is doing vs the weight of the limbs holding it down.
lotta energy stored in this mess. Anyone else have thoughts on approach?

Let me offer an alternative approach. Limb the top as best you can so that the top can fall freely. Then plunge cut the trunk right on top of the berm, down to within an inch or two of the berm. If you can reach the top away from the berm, cut it into sections. If not, cut the top at the berm just above the plunge cut. Depending on the weight of the root ball, it may just let the top fall off or it may try to stand up, so be ready for the top to move backwards. It will start to open up first. Ideally it would just fall off. But if the root ball stands the tree up, you can drop it just like any standing timber. Or, if it is out of the way, just let it stand there.

 

[Leslegg]

I would clear an area where you have sufficient escape routes near the berm on the rootball side of the berm. Then I'd make a cut about 1/4 the way through on the bottom of the log. Then a finishing cut from the top down. Decide in advance whether the rootball will stand back up when the rest of the tree weight is relieved. Be in a position where you are safe from the parts moving when it separates. I am not a tree expert so maybe best to wait till an expert replies. I've done trees like that, and worse, and am still here to speak about it, and you are right that there is a lot of stored energy there. If you know your limits and are not comfortable doing it, hire somebody to drop it. Once it's cleared, enjoy the shooting.

 

[Leslegg]

View attachment 748972
This cottonwood pulled it’s rootball and leaned over. I say leaned because it’s roots and a whole lotta earth are still attached. Then about 12’ from that it’s resting (left side of pic) on a berm built as a range backstop. Then you see the rest of this up in the air still. It is not supported to any degree by the limbs. Most of them are barely making contact with the ground. its held in space like this by the rootball still attached to the earth on the side it hinged down, the weight of the earth attached to the side that came up and where the truck is resting on the berm. It’s a big green tree.
I think my plan is to clear out a spot on the back of the berm where I have lots of room to escape and work free of obstruction. Notch the underside about 8’ from the rootball. And then slowly cut from the top down towards the notch. At some point it’s gonna want to have the heavy top start to bend down to the ground and the weighted root ball snap back upright.
I don’t know that I want to limb the top as I don’t know how much pulling up the root ball is doing vs the weight of the limbs holding it down.
lotta energy stored in this mess. Anyone else have thoughts on approach?

When I would consider doing something like this my wife would ask “Is your life insurance paid up? Is your health insurance paid up?”Then turn around and walk back into the house. This one looks dangerous and might best be left to a pro. Your mileage may vary

 

[Big Blue Florida]

Trees always offer up a falling fashion that can be a silly video or a tombstone .

We lost a Maple years back from to much rain w/ high winds.
Ground was water soaked & roots not holding to enough soil, high wind did the rest.

We knocked off a lot of top soil sticking 10 feet in the air & hand saw the side roots. Up came the fence shared by a neighbor.
The tree didn't settle an inch. More rain came & washed more soil away from more roots. More roots were cut away.

Both families pitched in & discovered an old glass bottle dump from the 20s thru the 40s last century. There was even a few lead tubes of tooth paste, all wrinkled up but lead still.

The tree was sitting on an old homestead dump site.

Even some old spark plugs the side of a big pickle.

You might let time/weather work on the resting tree. Did the tree die of lead poisoning. . . . all those wild rounds etc.
That much shooting will eat away at the protective bark & permit bugs & rot to start to work on killing any tree.

 

[DougMahindra2545]

I just finished a week long stump pulling project, and have roots on the brain. Lots of good advice here and much depends upon your tool kit. If you have a backhoe and good access around the root ball, some decent distance work pulling soil away could gradually loosen things enough for it to complete its fall. Also, with a great many roots, wrist thickness or so, involved, if enough are exposed, another incremental approach might be to cut them one by one with a pole saw, until what's left can't hold it up. Just another idea to mix into some great variety of ideas here.

 

[Jac65]

Start with the simplest and safest options first, then escalate if you have to. Based on the limited information available I would get some straps or chains (not rope) strap to that trunk about 2/3 of the way to the top and try to pull it sideways. if that works you may break enough roots to get it to lay down into a safer working configuration. If not, nothing but a little time invested.