How to Cut Down a Walnut Tree

Use a chainsaw to fell a black walnut.

Black walnut (Juglans nigra) can reach a height and spread of more than 100 feet at maturity. If you need to cut one down yourself, do it before the tree is 30 feet tall. Otherwise, you will need a tree service to cut it down in sections. Black walnut trees with a trunk diameter of 6 inches or less can be felled with a single, straight cut from a chainsaw, with the fall guided by hand. Felling a black walnut with a diameter of more than 6 inches will require some planning for safety's sake.

Things You'll Need

• Safety glasses
• Chainsaw
• Long-handled pruning shears
• Wood chipper (optional)
• Yard waste bags (optional)

Instructions

1. Cut down black walnut in fall or winter, when leaves are gone. Study the immediate area first, noting the position of vehicles, buildings, power lines and other trees. Know which direction the tree must fall to miss these objects.

2. Cut down black walnut on a calm day. Strong winds can change the way a large tree falls. Wear safety glasses and canvas gloves, and rake up brush and fallen nuts in the immediate area. Make at least two clear paths away from the tree so you can escape if need be. Practice on these routes until you can get away quickly.

3. Start the chainsaw. Place the blade at a 45-degree angle on the side of the tree facing the direction you want it to fall. For instance, if you want it to fall south, cut on the south side of the trunk. Slice down at 45 degrees to the center of the trunk. Make a second cut, 8 to 10 inches lower, horizontal to the end of the first cut, creating a V-notch.

4. Go to the other side of the black walnut's trunk. Make a third horizontal cut, 1 inch above point of the notch. Do not cut clear through. When blade gets near the notch point, the tree will begin to fall toward the open end of the V.

5. Move away from the tree as it falls. If you stay put, the cut end may bounce up and hit you in the head or chest. Move back in when the tree is still. Cut the largest limbs, followed by the trunk, into sections for chipping into mulch or stacking for firewood. Cut small limbs for kindling or mulching with pruning shears.

Tips & Warnings

• While a black walnut can be cut down with an axe, it's worth using a chainsaw instead. Black walnut is extremely hard wood, and using an axe will take a lot of physical effort.

• Do not, under any circumstances, make the third cut below the notch point. Doing this will cause the tree to fall toward you instead of away.

References

• University of Missouri: Felling, Bucking and Limbing Trees
• Ohio State University Extension: Tree Pruning, Trimming and Felling Safety
• University of Kentucky: Open Face Tree Felling Method

Resources

• Kansas Forest Service: Chain Saws -- Safety, Operation and Tree Felling