hung tree

[Eagleview]

What's your address ? I'll be there as quick as i can , for a modest fee .

 

[deereman64]

What's your address ? I'll be there as quick as i can , for a modest fee .

Im in New York, but looking at your profile I fear you would accuse me of being a woozy POM. The tree is hitched up on the stump.

 

[arrow]

I have this hung tree in my yard. It has been there for some time ,even though it looks precarious. I think cutting the stump would be too dangerous and I have tried pulling it off with the tractor but so far no luck. Any idea?

I'll add my 2 cents as I have encountered this sort of thing many times. I'll use your picture as reference. First, you'll need a tractor with fel. I didn't look but I'm hoping your tractor has a fel or at least know someone who does. Looking at the picture. Stand on the left side of the tree and notch it as if you were felling it toward those beautiful clouds in your pic. Make the felling cut with at least leaving a 2" hinge. Get the tractor and push the tree over. Its sort of like cow tipping but its a tree. You are basically forgetting that its been previously cut ( with the thought of not getting under it of course) and treating it as if you are felling it in a different direction 90* from the its current fall position. Cheez, I just had one of these this past weekend. ( I call this "a framing" a tree) I should of documented the take down. The tree is now a much safer entity to deal with "laying on its side" so to speak. Some times you get lucky and the tree unhangs itself when it hits the ground. If not, you can now at least undercut it without having to worry about a spring back such as when it was in its original position. After undercutting, now you can drag it away from its hang with the tractor.

Lou

 

[2manyrocks]

Maybe you can work out a trade with DieselPower to come over and use his equipment on it? http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j263/mikes4x4/sn9-10-42x-EDM-50BMG-2.jpg?t=1234584756

Of course, I'm not your neighbor.

 

[Egon]

Another thought might be cutting down the tree it is hung in?

That could be an interesting experience. There are probably records of fellows who had engaged in the practice!

 

[jimmyj]

Well dereman64, I'm thinking you should take treemonkey's advice. I think I should too.

 

[2manyrocks]

Although I confess to previously posting a nonsense suggestion, I'm serious when I say--

"When in doubt, don't."

Eventually, you'll think of a safe way to do it or it may fall on its own. Maybe your homeowner's insurance would cover taking it down to avoid an accident?

 

[deereman64]

This is the most dangerous tree, but I must have at least 6 other trees hung up and about another 15 that have died. Its old farm land that has reforested itself and I think whats happening is the soil is light to clay and the roots are not going down deep and when we have drought they die very quickly. I have been cutting up fallen trees,but as I work by myself have not yet tackled the still standing or hung trees.Still plucking up courage

 

[b33b]

Spring storms usually result in several blow downs but I had one stop at a 45 angle, hung in a neighboring tree, root ball half out of the ground.

It right over the main path the water, about 18-20 inches at the butt, and worried me enough to give it a month to see if it would take care of itself. It didn't, and the grandkids were coming for a visit. Notched the bottom, cut from the top, and the butt dropped straight down with a thump that shook the ground. A second or two later the rest of the tree came with another earth shaking thump. As soon as it unloaded, the stump snapped backwards - didn't even think of that in my planing.

Thought I had been careful but was reminded, again, of the power of a tree coming down. Thinking about later I realized the tree could have rolled off the hang up, or hit another tree on the way down and leveraged the butt back at me faster than I was moving.

It didn't, straight drop with all that weight, so I came away looking like I knew what I was doing though it was my first 'leaner' of that size. Wife chewed me out pretty good for not having her nearby to get help if something went wrong. - had to agree that was a good point.

Comes a time when it is worth paying someone with more experience, I had in the past but wanted to try this one myself. Nothing says you can't watch and help, and be better prepared to do it on your own the next time.

Staring to warm up out there, wonder how many trees will come down this winter and spring.

 

[Eagleview]

An old bloke a few years ago did something similar , but the tree slid straight back off the stump and crushed his leg against the ground . He knew he was going to die as he was far from help and the wild dogs would be around after dark . He took out his trusty "Old Timer" pocket knife and cut through all the sinews and flesh between his kneecap and left his leg behind . A search on Google would probably bring it up . The point is , these trees are deadly in that state , we burried a guy 3 years ago that did'nt move away fast enough .

 

[CampD]

Geez guys, am I nuts? I cut trees like this all the time. It's easy. Just notch the trunk and back cut until she starts to move and run like heck. Have a clear path and a spotter who taps you on the shoulder the minute the tree starts to move. I haven't ever had one "barber chair" or snap off suddenly. If the tree is rotten I would not do it though in favour of rolling the top off with a long chain and snatch block. Also, don't do it if there is any chance of branches breaking off or springing back.

Am I reckless? It seems so easy to do. Comments? I've been doing this for 20 years.

This is the way i do it too, I just double and triple check on where I think the most pressure is, cut it just enough for it to fall on its own.relive the presure, dont cut till it starts to go, just enough and it will drop on its own

 

[aggiehortguy91]

I hate hung trees and that one looks pretty bad. It looks like the break is at least sholder high. Here is what I would do:

First, go to the store and buy a set of plastic wedges and a good single bit ax if you don't already own them.

Second, look at the tree and determine which way it would have a tendancy to roll when cut. That large branch going up is going to want to pull to one side or the other and the top is going to be wrapped up in other trees as well.

Third, get someone to at least stand watch with a cell phone while you work.

Fourth, look at your area and prepare at least 2 escape routes away from the tree so you have somewhere to go when ..... I mean if something goes wrong.

Fifth, working on the side of the trunk where the top SHOULD roll, make a small notch with your chainsaw like you would when felling a tree. Be careful because there is a good chance that the tree could try to shift on you so be prepared to leave the saw. When you feel you have cut all you dare, start the cut on the back side. Keep a close eye on the tree in case it decides to come after you. Cut in as far as you dare and if the tree hasn't fallen or bound up your saw, use the wedges to help push it over. If the wedges don't work, then it is time to start using the ax to finish the cut.

What ever you do, don't start the project by saying "Hey, Bubba! Watch this....." I've found that to be a poor way to start a dangerous undertaking.

I was always tought to never leave a tree you have started cutting or hung tree because you never know when it will fall.

 

[aggiehortguy91]

Oops, I didn't realize there were so many pages, I only saw the first one! Hopefully I repeated what others have said already several times.

 

[Oldchuck]

I was always tought to never leave a tree you have started cutting or hung tree because you never know when it will fall.

When cutting in thick woods there are always hangers and should be treated like loaded guns. Often enough we get to a point where the danged thing just isn't going to come down so we leave it. And often enough come back the next day or the day after and it's on the ground, problem solved. Of course, not the best solution in all cases but I'd rather have it fall in the middle of the night than on my head.

 

[BotaBigot]

I'm certain the tree can be brought down without injury...possibly using posted suggestions. But, here's the real issue...if anything about the situation makes you uncomfortable, leave it alone and/or let someone with proper experience do the job. If age has taught me anything, it's listen to what my instincts are telling me. Testosterone doesn't influence my actions as it once did...

 

[deereman64]

Many thanks to all for your input. I haven't done anything yet as Im waiting for spring.

1) Firmer ground

2) Birthday as per Iron Horse Im asking for a new shiny swiss army knife.

 

[MikeD74T]

I've cut many hanging trees, my own and for others and have taught others to safely cut their own. Hangers & leaners all pose a risk that can be minimized by good planning. With low stumps I cut blocks from the bottom until the tree is vertical or comes down. With a high stump, more than 5', I notch the stump perpendicular to the lean. The hinge will allow the tree to travel in one direction some distance before it starts to "unhang". It's possible to cut blocks from either & end up with a free hanging top which must then be pulled down. Obviously the top will eventually come down and there needs to be enough space for it to do so. There is always the option of hiring cranes, bucket trucks, etc. Cost vs risk is the decision to be made.

The worst advice I've heard in this thread is to notch & come back tomorrow. Better to leave it as is than half do the job. In New Hampshire all unposted land is open for access for hunting, fishing, hiking, etc by statute. Landowner liability is limited to unguarded dangerous situations known to or created by the landowner. One could find themselves facing criminal endangerment or negligement homoside charges.

When any thread starts with the question "Can I do this...?" the obvious answer should be "NO!". A better question would be " How can this be done safely? " and the requestor left to evaluate whether the answers fall within his skill set.

 

[Egon]

The worst advice I've heard in this thread is to notch & come back tomorrow. Better to leave it as is than half do the job.

I strongly disagree with this statement.

Notch and let the wind finish the job. Then you are not in the falling zone when it falls.

 

[2manyrocks]

Depends on whether anybody might come along and have it fall on them. If you are in a location where there is a fair chance someone will come on your place and have the tree fall on them, then I wouldn't notch it. If there isn't much risk of someone getting under it, then notching for the wind to knock it down may still be an option.

Cost is a relative thing. A bucket truck might seem expensive unless you compare it to a hospital bill.

I've got one hung in the woods, but since it's in the woods and no body is supposed to be around it, I'm not messing with it.

 

[Egon]

So I find about 5 or 6 windblown trees that have been that way for ??? as I didn't see them fall in a location that is quite inaccessible to a bucket truck without a doing few days road building.

They get notched and are down by next morning. Thats faster than the bucket truck gets there.

It's also faster than getting in other proper equipment.

So, do I let them hang for longer or get them on the ground in a manner that I figured was the safest??

Or???