Tree removal - bright ideas required

[Bill Stock]

I've got a tree to take down that's in the corner of the lot, so it involves several fences. I've taken down a few trees in the past, so the general plan is to limb it, tie it off and winch it down after I notch it. But one limb overhangs a fence and I don't have a good natural crotch to tie off the limb while I piece it up. The limb is probably about 15', 8' off the ground and about 6" at the trunk. I can safely pull down the top third of it on the far side of the fence and the bottom third should be OK on my side, but the middle section is problematic. There is one natural crotch high in the tree, but it's too far from the problem branch to be of much use. The limb would drop and swing too much if I cut enough off to be of much use. I've read about artificial crotches, but I'm just not seeing any good alternatives. Any ideas appreciated.

It's some kind of softwood BTW.

[Tom Slick]

Schedule a visit from the local crane service. They are (surprisingly) not terribly expensive.

[master53yoda]

Schedule a visit from the local crane service. They are (surprisingly) not terribly expensive.

When setting AC units i used a sign company that was down the street from the shop. They only charged 75 for setting an AC unit on most roofs. What got spendy was when we had to use a chopper that started at 500.00 and went up from there but on a strip mall or a store it was worth it when we had 10 or 15 units because the chopper could set them in the center of the roof instead of just on the edge.

[crokett]

You could tie two ropes to the limb - one above to support it and one below that keeps it from swinging. Tie the one below to a vehicle and have someone in the vehicle who can drive backwards to keep the ropes tight. A tree service guy did it this way to take down a dead tree for me that was close to power lines. He put two ropes on the bigger limbs.

[shoottx]

Dynamite

[Uncle Cracker]

Trained beaver...

[messmaker]

You could tie two ropes to the limb - one above to support it and one below that keeps it from swinging. Tie the one below to a vehicle and have someone in the vehicle who can drive backwards to keep the ropes tight. A tree service guy did it this way to take down a dead tree for me that was close to power lines. He put two ropes on the bigger limbs.

If I am seeing the correct mental picture of your situation, I think Crokett is on the right path. A photo might help clarify the situation.

[Bill Stock]

You could tie two ropes to the limb - one above to support it and one below that keeps it from swinging. Tie the one below to a vehicle and have someone in the vehicle who can drive backwards to keep the ropes tight. A tree service guy did it this way to take down a dead tree for me that was close to power lines. He put two ropes on the bigger limbs.

Yeah, I had an epiphany in bed last night, pretty much like that. Tie a counterweight to the top of the branch through the high crotch and tie another rope just above the cut to remove the swing. A 100 lb counterweight should do the trick.

Unfortunately the neighbour in question has his hands 'painted on' and starts spouting legal liability after agreeing earlier to let me work on his property. I hope he enjoys the tree in it's present state. I can wait, I wonder if his wife can.

[conwaygolfer]

Tree

You say the higher crotch is too high to be useful. The exact opposite is true. It will allow you to manage the limb much better. The closer a crotch is to the limb you are removing, the less control you have over the direction you want it to go.
Since the limb is only 8 ft. off the ground, the only part of it to be concerned with, is the heavy butt end. The rest will gently fall to the ground. Cut this part up until you get to the butt and then push / pull the butt away from the fence. And all this is being accomplished while someone else holds the lowering rope which is tied to the butt. Tie it about 2-4 ft. past where you want to cut it.
If the limb is too heavy for one man to hold, take the rope and go around the tree trunk one time. The friction will allow them to hold a vehicle. Just make sure your rope is 1/2 in. diameter or larger. There is plenty more to say, but you get the idea.
How do I know this stuff? I owned a tree service for over 25 years.
Hope this helps.

Glenn

[Mr__Bill]

Unfortunately the neighbour in question has his hands 'painted on'

That's a bit of imagery I am going to have to remember.


A neighbor took a tree down and the big limbs he cut into firewood length and lowered on a rope. Lots of cuts and I am surprised he didn't kill himself, but it did no damage underneath. Fortunately the trunk was leaning away from the house and he only blocked the street for about 4 hours after the first cut on the ground trapped the bar in the cut.


another Bill

[Bill Stock]

Since the limb is only 8 ft. off the ground, the only part of it to be concerned with, is the heavy butt end. The rest will gently fall to the ground. Cut this part up until you get to the butt and then push / pull the butt away from the fence. And all this is being accomplished while someone else holds the lowering rope which is tied to the butt. Tie it about 2-4 ft. past where you want to cut it.

Glenn

Thanks Glenn, sounds good unfortunately I don't have access to this guy's side to shorten up the limbs. Which means if I support the butt and make the cut the branches will brush his delicate fence. I'm sure I can expect a visit from the city next week as it is.

[Bill Stock]

That's a bit of imagery I am going to have to remember.

Yeah my brother used it on me often enough as a youngster if I didn't jump in to help soon enough. 'What's wrong with you, are your hands painted on'

A neighbor took a tree down and the big limbs he cut into firewood length and lowered on a rope. Lots of cuts and I am surprised he didn't kill himself, but it did no damage underneath. Fortunately the trunk was leaning away from the house and he only blocked the street for about 4 hours after the first cut on the ground trapped the bar in the cut.
another Bill

I'm not saying this is an easy job, but it's not big and scary either. But considering this guy can't even cut his own grass, any manual labour is too much for him.

[Mr__Bill]

Perhaps you can tell your neighbor that the limb that is sticking over the fence and over his property is his, the neighbor's, responsibility.



Bill, now back to making Easter dinner

[conwaygolfer]

Tree

Looks like you have one other option. Use that high crotch and place the rope as far out as you possibly can on the limb to cut. You want to make it "butt heavy". Attach another rope to the butt end just like in the first scenario.(several ft.out) This rope will be using a lower crotch. Then place another rope as a pull line, out toward the first rope.

The cut will be done on the backside of the direction that you want the limb to go. The front part will act as a hinge, pulling / guiding it in the correct direction. Have two people on the ground using the ropes.

The butt rope can be tied off to the same tree or another. This rope will not be used again until the limb is on your side of the fence.

Now have one of the people gradually pulling on the pull line as you cut. The other person will be holding the rope that is thru the high crotch. He must continue holding it until it is over on your side. He can allow it to "slip" a small amount to help the limb swing properly.

After it is on your side, put slack in the high crotch rope, enough to let the limb settle onto your property. Then lower the butt end down also.

You need to be extremely careful when cutting this limb. It needs to hinge in the right direction with you cutting. Very dangerous to you. You need to be ABOVE the limb. If the guy on the ground pulls to soon, or applies too much pressure pulling, the limb could rip off and hurt you.

You DO NOT want to be standing on a ladder, or "hanging" on to the tree. You should have a tree saddle to assure your safety.

Sorry if this sounds confusing, but it needs to be done right - especially if your neighbor is what I think he is.

Any more questions - just ask.
Glenn
PS: for a 6in. limb, start your cut with a chainsaw, but finish with a handsaw. If you hqave not done this work before, you don't want a chainsaw up there with you when the limb starts moving.

[conwaygolfer]

Tree

Bill, I just reread your original post. You say you don't have a "Natural crotch" to use other than the higher up one. I am not sure what you mean by natural. Any limb that you could climb on would be sufficient. As long as the rope goes around the truck and over the limb, the limb simply holds the rope up. Most of the weight of the cut limb will be on the trunk. A 1 or 2 inch limb will easily hold a 6in. limb as long as the rope is tight to the trunk. Use this for the butt end.

Another way to get the upper crotch rope, out past the half way point of the limb you are cutting is to use a pole saw. Go to the lumber yard and get a 12 or 14 ft. closet pole. Attach a "hook" to the end. Take the rope and throw it out over the limb and hopefully past a side limb. Then use your hook to pull it back to you. Tie a running bowline in the rope and pull it back tight to the limb you are cutting off. Have the guy on the ground pull the slack out of his end of the rope. You are now ready to cut and have it swing toward your side of the fence.
Just curious - where do you live?
Glenn