You have a dead tree in your garden that has turned into a real eyesore and is distracting from the beauty of your flowerbeds, landscaping and home. Or, maybe you are doing a major overhaul in your garden and have decided it’s time to get rid of that tree to make way for more sunlight or add room for a vegetable garden or a new feature.

1. How to Safely Cut Down a Tree and Remove it from Your Garden
You have a dead tree in your garden that has turned into a real eyesore and is
distracting from the beauty of your flowerbeds, landscaping and home. Or, maybe you
are doing a major overhaul in your garden and have decided it’s time to get rid of that
tree to make way for more sunlight or add room for a vegetable garden or a new
feature.
Cutting down and removing
a tree from your garden is a
task you can take on
yourself, but it’s one that can
be dangerous. It’s important
to know the right way to cut
down and remove a tree, so
you can do it safely without
injuring yourself or
damaging your garden.
Before you start this project,
you must wear proper safety
equipment. Wear goggles,
gloves, long sleeves and
pants and sturdy boots to protect yourself while working. Also make sure your
chainsaw’s gas tank is full, as running out of gas while cutting a tree can be very
dangerous.
Safely Plan a Falling Zone
Before you fire up that chainsaw, you need to plan where the tree will fall. The moment
the tree falls is the most dangerous part of this job, so this is an important step. Choose a
direction from the tree that is free of obstacles like other trees, plants and buildings. If
the tree is leaning to one side, or heavier on one side, it will fall in that direction. Don’t
try to defy gravity by trying to make it fall another way.
It’s hard to estimate just how tall a tree is while it is standing. But, there’s an easy trick
you can use. Hold an ax straight out in front of you, vertically, and at arm’s length.
Now, close one eye and slowly back, away from the tree, until the top of the ax lines up
with the top of the tree and the bottom of the ax lines up with the bottom of the tree.

2. The spot where you are standing is approximately where the treetop will fall, so take a
few steps back and drive a stake into the ground. Now, clear the area between the tree
and the stake.
You also need plenty of room around the tree, in the opposite direction of the falling
zone, to walk away from it when it starts to fall. Make sure there is nothing in your way
and nothing on the ground that could cause you to trip.
Cut a Notch on the “Fall Side”
Now, use a chainsaw to cut a notch, or sideways “V” into the side of the tree that will
fall toward the ground, or the “fall side.” The notch should go about one fifth of the
way into the tree’s trunk.
To do this, first cut downward, into the tree, remove the chainsaw, make a cut in the
centre of the notch (perpendicular to the tree) and then make the final cut upwards to
form the second half of the notch.
Drive a Pry Bar into the Opposite Side
If you are working with a medium-sized or large tree, you’ll need to drive a pry bar into
the trunk. This step helps ensure that the tree will fall in the desired direction, landing
in the falling zone you have cleared. Making sure the tree falls correctly is very
important to doing this job safely, so do this step carefully.
Using the chainsaw, cut a line, which is slightly angled toward the ground, into the
opposite side of the tree. You don’t need to make this cut very deep, but just big enough
that you can fit the pry bar into it. Place the edge at the crack and then use a mallet or
the back of your ax to drive the pry bar into the cut.
If you aren’t using a pry bar, you’ll still need to make this cut, aiming toward the centre
of the notch you cut on the other side of the tree.
Make the Final Cut and Exit the Area
Now, you are ready to make the final cut, which will fell the tree. Stand to the side of
the tree as you do this, because the end of a falling trunk could slide backwards, hitting
and injuring you if you are in the way.

3. Start where you inserted the wedge, and continue cutting toward the point of the notch
that you cut earlier. In many cases, the tree will automatically start to fall as you finish
this cut. But, if you need to, you can lift up the pry bar to initiate the fall.
As the tree starts to fall, turn your chainsaw off, carefully set it down and walk away
from the tree. Do not run and do not stop watching the tree, just in case it starts to fall in
a different direction.
Removing the Tree
Now that the tree has fallen, you can
safely remove it from your garden.
The way you do this will depend on
how large the tree is, but generally, it
is easier to cut it into pieces before
you try to move it.
Start by using your chainsaw to
remove the branches. If you want,
you can use a chipper to shred the
branches to use for mulch, compost
or just to make them easier to
dispose of.
Once all the branches are removed, cut the trunk into sections that you can safely lift
and move yourself. Some people like to save tree trunks to use as firewood, either
inside or outside. If you want to do this, be sure to cut the wood into pieces that are
easy to store. It may seem easier to cut the tree into large pieces, so you don’t have as
much timber to deal with, but this approach can actually make your job harder, as the
pieces will be much heavier. Play it safe and cut the trunk into small pieces.
The easiest way to remove a fallen tree is to hire a skip that you can load the pieces into
as you cut them. Check with your supplier to find a model that is large and tough
enough to handle this job.
To browse HSS Hire’s gardening tools and equipment for hire, please visit the HSS Hire
Gardening page: www.hss.com/cl/1014396/Gardening.html