coen9
ArboristSite Lurker
MMmmk so, though this is the newbie thread, I feel it prudent of me to state that my knowledge of tree work can be pretty well summed up in two words: jack and sh*t.
That being said, my qualifications are:
A. I've used a chainsaw on multiple occasions before
B. I didn't cut my toes off
C. I possess common sense, at least most of the time
With that out of the way, here's my issue. If you want the bottom line without all the details, skip this and jump down to "So here's my question:."
On my mother's land around her house, about 2 acres worth, there's a hell of a lot of shallow-rooted pine that, for whatever reasons (i've been told it was a previous drought) have roots that grow out parallel to the ground instead of out and down. As such, anytime there's a wind storm or really anytime a squirrel jumps on one, the thing is coming down. Where she lives (in Earlysville, VA), it's been a major problem for everyone. So in her yard, there are downed pines everywhere, and there are a lot of trees that haven't come down all the way..that are hanging on others. The ones posing an immediate danger have been removed, but she's gotten estimates from licensed arborists that have quoted her $10,000 or more to completely clean up the land around her house. She can't afford that right now. I've been helping her out when I can, coming over to buck a couple of fallen trees on a weekend....and holy CRAP is that hard work...especially with just two people (me and my brother), one chainsaw, and no power equipment of any kind. The woods are so dense with healthy trees and/or fallen trees that we basically have to move each 80 to 100 lb. log section by hand 50 ft. out to where we were stacking them and the branches and brush even further out. Though it's really tough, we are making some progress and have started to line the property line with some of the logs (nobody wants pine and that's the best thing I could think of to do with it).
The real problem is those damn trees that haven't fallen all the way yet...the ones that are hung up in other trees. Since there's only two of us doing the work and sporadically at that, it's going to double the work load if I have to cut down every healthy tree that the fallen tree is hung up on. And that, in and of itself seems dangerous as hell. There's at least 24 of the things left.
So here's my question:
Is there a way I can get some of those hung-up trees down without cutting down the other trees that they're hanging on? I have no power equipment besides my chainsaw (stihl MS 441), though I guess I could rent some if absolutely necessary, but I don't mind hard work without it. My first thought was a really heavy duty comealong tied to another tree to try and pull the tree back and/or down. Is this done?
Now yes, I know you're going to tell me that I should have a professional do it, but the money's just not there right now, and I've already got a sizable amount down. It's just hose hanging trees.
Thanks for reading, and I've got a new-found respect for tree work.
That being said, my qualifications are:
A. I've used a chainsaw on multiple occasions before
B. I didn't cut my toes off
C. I possess common sense, at least most of the time
With that out of the way, here's my issue. If you want the bottom line without all the details, skip this and jump down to "So here's my question:."
On my mother's land around her house, about 2 acres worth, there's a hell of a lot of shallow-rooted pine that, for whatever reasons (i've been told it was a previous drought) have roots that grow out parallel to the ground instead of out and down. As such, anytime there's a wind storm or really anytime a squirrel jumps on one, the thing is coming down. Where she lives (in Earlysville, VA), it's been a major problem for everyone. So in her yard, there are downed pines everywhere, and there are a lot of trees that haven't come down all the way..that are hanging on others. The ones posing an immediate danger have been removed, but she's gotten estimates from licensed arborists that have quoted her $10,000 or more to completely clean up the land around her house. She can't afford that right now. I've been helping her out when I can, coming over to buck a couple of fallen trees on a weekend....and holy CRAP is that hard work...especially with just two people (me and my brother), one chainsaw, and no power equipment of any kind. The woods are so dense with healthy trees and/or fallen trees that we basically have to move each 80 to 100 lb. log section by hand 50 ft. out to where we were stacking them and the branches and brush even further out. Though it's really tough, we are making some progress and have started to line the property line with some of the logs (nobody wants pine and that's the best thing I could think of to do with it).
The real problem is those damn trees that haven't fallen all the way yet...the ones that are hung up in other trees. Since there's only two of us doing the work and sporadically at that, it's going to double the work load if I have to cut down every healthy tree that the fallen tree is hung up on. And that, in and of itself seems dangerous as hell. There's at least 24 of the things left.
So here's my question:
Is there a way I can get some of those hung-up trees down without cutting down the other trees that they're hanging on? I have no power equipment besides my chainsaw (stihl MS 441), though I guess I could rent some if absolutely necessary, but I don't mind hard work without it. My first thought was a really heavy duty comealong tied to another tree to try and pull the tree back and/or down. Is this done?
Now yes, I know you're going to tell me that I should have a professional do it, but the money's just not there right now, and I've already got a sizable amount down. It's just hose hanging trees.
Thanks for reading, and I've got a new-found respect for tree work.
