How to Fell a Tree in Any Direction

Control your tree's fall to protect your property.

It is relatively easy to get a tree to fall in the direction you wish. The key is to create a cut that will weaken the tree in the direction you wish it to fall. The best tool for this type of precision cut is a chainsaw. An axe's rough chopping is difficult to apply accurately, and the hacking can dislodge weak branches on a weak tree, which may fall on you or anyone in the area.

Things You'll Need

• Chainsaw
• Rope
• Partner

Instructions

1. Allow the tree to determine the direction in which it will fall, if possible. A tree is most likely to fall in the direction it is leaning, on the side that has a disproportionate number of branches, in the direction of the prevailing wind, or the direction of any significant trunk rot. If at all possible, let these factors guide where the tree will fall. If you prefer that the tree fall in another direction, first follow the directions in step two. If the tree can fall in the direction it is likely to fall in, skip to step three.

2. Tie a rope to the trunk of the tree, as high as you can reach. Leave enough slack to pull the tree in the right direction without standing within the crash zone. If possible, find a tree that is in front of and slightly to the left or right of the tree. Use the tree as a fulcrum to allow you to pull from a 90 degree angle. Walk the rope slack out just past the fulcrum tree, then turn 90 degrees and walk the slack out 3 or 4 feet so that the rope makes an angle with the fulcrum tree in the middle. Lay the rope on the ground until you're ready to begin cutting the tree. When it is time, your partner can pull the rope at an angle and stay out of the direct path of the falling tree.

3. Check the tree's intended path for any obstacles. A tree lodged in the branches of another tree poses a significant danger. It may fall at any time, or knock a large limb down that may harm or even kill someone. If other trees are in the way of the falling tree's path, choose another path.

4. Plan two escape routes to take should the tree fall. Make each escape route at a 45-degree angle away from the base of the tree.

5. Notify everyone on the property that the tree will be coming down soon.

6. Undercut the tree in the direction that you want it to fall in. Make a waist-high, horizontal cut 1/3 of the way through the trunk of the tree. Make a second cut, high enough above the first to angle down and meet the first cut at a 45-degree angle. Remove the chunk of wood.

7. Have a partner hold the rope in position to pull without being in the path of the falling tree.

8. Have your friend hold the rope tied in step two. Hold the rope taut, but do not pull yet.

9. Make a horizontal felling cut on the opposite side of the trunk, 2 inches above the floor of the notch on the opposite side. Cut until you create a hinge (space between the edge of the undercut and the felling cut) that is roughly 1/8 to 1/6 of the tree trunk's diameter. Keep the hinge uniformly thick. If the chainsaw is angled, the hinge may be thicker on one side than the other and the tree will twist and fall toward the thin side of the hinge.

10. Watch the tree's progress as you cut. The tree may begin to fall before you finish making the felling cut. If it looks as if the tree is leaning in a direction other than the one you planned on (or the felling cut is beginning to fall in on itself), stop cutting, turn the chainsaw off and put it down and give your partner the signal to pull the tree in the right direction.

11. Turn off the chainsaw quickly and put it down, then take your planned escape route as the felling cut opens and the tree begins to fall. Instruct your partner to do the same.

Tips & Warnings

• Always be prepared for the chance that a tree may fall in the wrong direction before you have a chance to stop it. This is especially likely if you are encouraging the tree to fall in another direction than the one that it is wont.

• If there is significant risk of damage to property (your home or electrical wire), call a professional to do the job..

• If your tree trunk is 6 inches or smaller in diameter, there is no need to make an undercut or a felling cut. Simply cut straight through 3/4 of the trunk on the opposite side of the one you want the tree to fall on. Then push the tree over. A forked stick or other implement will help you push.

• Do not approach a fallen tree until it has stopped moving.

• Never allow a tree to fall on a steep slope. It may bounce back and hit you.

References

• Mother Earth News; Felling a Tree; Malcolm Margolin; October 2005
• North Dakota State University Extension Service; Chain Saw Safety: No Tricks; George Maher; January 1992
• TreeHelp.com: How to Remove a Tree
• Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service; Cutting Firewood Safely; Dave Marcouiller, et al.