Can I Cut Down My Own Tree?

Probably not.

Yeah, obviously a blog written by a tree service isn’t going to encourage you to cut down your own tree. But there’s good reason for it. If there’s some honeysuckle growing in your back yard that you don’t like, and you’ve got a set of pruners and a spare hour, put some gloves on and go nuts. But if the tree is taller than you or it needs a chainsaw, think twice. Here’s why.

Safety

This is the most important reason by far. OSHA says that tree trimming and logging are the most dangerous jobs in the country. There are dozens of fatalities and tens of thousands of injuries every year from tree-trimming accidents—and that’s from people who do it for a living. Chainsaws are dangerous. Giant falling logs are dangerous. Falling out of a tree is dangerous. Here are some specific things to be on the lookout for.

• Ladders—if you’re standing on top of a ladder with a chainsaw, stop. You’ve done something wrong. YouTube it.
• Climbing—are you in the tree? Stop. You’ve done something wrong. YouTube it.
• Felling—if you’re knocking a whole tree over, think, “what’s the worst-case scenario?” What happens if the tree goes exactly the direction you don’t want it to go? Are you going to destroy the roof of your house? How about your neighbor's house?
• Protective gear—are you wearing a proper helmet? If you’re not sure what makes a helmet “proper,” yours isn’t.

Cleanup

If everything goes perfectly and you get the tree on the ground, you’ll still have an enormous mess to deal with. Professional tree services have chippers, well-maintained chainsaws, loading machines, and a crew of people who know what they’re doing. Still it can take a whole day to clean up after a big removal. If you’re working with grandpa’s trusty chainsaw, a couple friends, and a burn pit, you may be looking at a job that takes all summer. Remember—they always look bigger after they’re on the ground.

Knowledge

Okay, you’ve decided you can handle all of the above. You’re invincible and you’re the hardest-working person this side of the Mississippi. There’s a long list of things you probably aren’t aware of (not even considering safety and scope of work) that you really ought to know before doing any work on a tree. Do you know when to cut your white oak tree to prevent the spread of oak wilt? Are you aware of the potential 5- or even 6-figure fine you may be liable for if you do it at the wrong time? Do you know the laws regarding trees on city property? Your neighbor’s property? Right on the property line? Do you know where your (or your neighbor’s) septic tank is? Do you know why that’s important?

If you still find all of this unconvincing, Here’s our last appeal: we do free estimates. Give us a call. We’ll come out and tell you (honestly) whether you need to hire a professional and why or why not.