Tree takedown

[Constrictor]

Ok my brother owns this house and wants the tree down because its dying and only has one live branch. I know its a job that needs to be hired out but just wondering if there is a way he and I could safely take it down. Its an oak tree, measured around it was 13' around so a 50" tree. HUGE! It is leaning away from the house, and actually has a clear path to just drop bit it will land on a city street and we are concerned it will crush the street so im thinking it needs climbed and limbed first, any ideas? Im probably not going to do it but just want some ideas on if it could be done without a pro truck job.

 

[polexie]

You can´t drop it, as you said it will damage the pavement. Only way to get it down without damage is a bucket truck with some skilled guys. The will peel it, branch by branch. Trunk is lowered piece by piece. If you drop those oak pieces from several meters, the lawn below will look like a minefield afterwards.

Let the pro´s get into it, oh it´s a good excuse to get a BIG saw.

Good luck,

Lex

 

[coppermouse]

I did a tree like that once for my cousin, it did not hurt the street. Just be ready to clean up the stuff in the street quick so you don't block traffic for too long, get a bunch of buddies to help, and stop traffic while you drop it.
When I did that, I told the neighbors across the street it was going to crush their mailbox and I would buy a new one of their choice and install it. They were cool about it, and it did smash the mailbox

 

[Constrictor]

The street traffic is a non issue. Its a side road and sees very little traffic. I have a 71cc sthil and 32" bar

 

[tomtrees58]

simple removal w or w out a bucket truck about 4to 5 hrs total tom trees

 

[Dan_IN_MN]

Here is what I'd do with it.

Here is what I'd do with it. I'd put a ladder up and cut the branches that I marked with the thick red lines so they don't get punched into the lawn. Then I'd take it down! :greenchainsaw: If it was leaning towards the house....Then I'd get the pros. :monkey: Or there might be some... You might want to get a few buddys and put a good rope on it just for insurance. A couple extra saws/bodies would make it a bit easier.

 

[Wet1]

Boy I'd love to have the wood in that tree!

You can take it down as it stands (although it wouldn't hurt to remove a limb or two first), but you're going to be blocking the street for more than a few minutes!

BTW... You never know how solid a tree that size might be near the base, especially a dieing one. If you do tackle it, make sure you use wedges!!!

 

[JONSEREDFAN6069]

if your worried about damaging the street put down a bunch of old tires in the path where it's gonna fall go 3 wide then 2 wide stacked on that then a single row on top of that. that'll be plenty of cushion for the tree.

 

[FELLNORTH]

Here is what I'd do with it. I'd put a ladder up and cut the branches that I marked with the thick red lines so they don't get punched into the lawn. Then I'd take it down! :greenchainsaw: If it was leaning towards the house....Then I'd get the pros. :monkey: Or there might be some... You might want to get a few buddys and put a good rope on it just for insurance. A couple extra saws/bodies would make it a bit easier.

+1 :agree2:

 

[Wet1]

I just noticed... is that a utility pole directly across the street (in the landing zone)???

 

[Dan_IN_MN]

They burn too...don't they?

I just noticed... is that a utility pole directly across the street (in the landing zone)???

They burn too...don't they?:greenchainsaw:

 

[AOD]

Remove the limbs marked with red lines, and then drop away! Agreed on using tires or something to cushion the landing. I've used the hand logs from trimmed limbs with success, skids would work but tires are probably the best. I bet a tire shop would let you borrow some old tires for a couple days.

 

[Mike Van]

You could drop whatever you wanted without damage on our roads right now, there's gotta be 3 ft of frost. Cut away........

 

[mattmc2003]

If your the person wondering whether or not to cut this tree and worried about it, then you prob can't make it land where you put the tires to cushion the fall. Just my opinion. But i'd cut it. Heck with cutting any limbs first. All the trampling around and sawdust and dragging wood around will tear up the yard anyway.

 

[johncinco]

I did one at my rental house like that, only its a very busy street with lots of traffic. I "borrowed" some yellow stanchions with flashing lights from a construction project and blocked off the street for about a 1/2 hour. As long as you have traffic well out of the way before you drop it. Hey work has to be done, and safety first! If it falls in the middle of the night in a storm its going to cause more chaos than you taking it down during the day with precautions.

 

[ohioburner]

I just noticed... is that a utility pole directly across the street (in the landing zone)???

It sure looks like it. If you get into them it could end up costing more then what a bucket truck would charge to take it down.

 

[thejdman04]

Id drop it right there, be ready to get it off the road quickly, if you dont have a skid steer, you might look into renting one with a grapple, to quickly get the branches off the road. cut it into large pieces and get it off the road.

 

[davegster]

I would say it is not worth the risk. You will probably find the heart (AKA interior of the tree) is rotted out. Big trees die from the inside out. When you cut that wedge, you might find out there is not enough wood to create a hinge to keep that tree from jumping up and losing control: when that happens you could put that stump in the house or send that tree in any direction it chooses. Get a quote from someone that will bring in down to the ground in larger pieces and allow you to cut it up to size.

 

[Dan_IN_MN]

The street traffic is a non issue.

The street traffic is a non issue. Its a side road and sees very little traffic. I have a 71cc sthil and 32" bar

FYI

 

[willsaw4beer]

They burn too...don't they?:greenchainsaw:

:hmm3grin2orange: