Suggestions for tree removal

[Rockbadchild]

We had a pretty bad storm come through Sunday night/Monday morning. Lots of downed branches and trees. A guy not far from here was killed by one falling on his mobile home.

We avoided any really bad problems, but lost some mid-sized trees. This one is threatening to crush part of my new fence...suggestions?

View attachment 3578493

my suggestion would be to set a pully on a tree back behind the fence, then set up a rope on it and pull it with your tractor or a truck so it rips off and fall behind the fence (hopefully), then you can fall the standing piece.

 

[Torvy]

The far side of the fence is leased to a big chicken operation. To the right, the property on the other side is owned by a huge corporation. Both properties are unused at present, but I cannot easily contact the property owners.

I was thinking I could support the top of the broken end with the grapple (the branches are already providing some support). Then I can separate the break completely. Drop the rest of the trunk and then push the remainder over the fence. Not sure if it's clear in the picture, but the ground drops into the corner. (Between the tree and the dog).

 

[2manyrocks]

My guess is the branches aren't really supporting it. My guess is the tree is resting on the canopy and the broken trunk. When the trunk is completely severed, it may unpredictably twist and fall to one side or the other. Whichever way it twists, it looks like the severed butt end will still fall on your fence.

To explain, it looks unpredictable whether the tree will fall to the left or to the right when severed. One limb is already resting on your fence. What I think is predictable is that when severed, the butt end is going to want to spring out towards your property and fall in an arc even further onto your fence.

Also looks like maybe 1/3 of the splintered trunk is holding the tree up with a lot of weight of the trunk exerting leverage on the splintered hinge.

 

[bcp]

I've found that it is sometimes easier to lay down the fence wire, cut the tree without complications, then reinstall the fence wire.

Bruce

 

[2manyrocks]

If the fence were laid down, might could use a long cable or chains to pull it down from a safe distance. Cheaper to repair fence than ER or worse.

 

[BackRoad]

I find many of the things I worry about never happen...and it's easy to over complicate an issue in my head.

Do as you mention in your last comment Mr. Torvy. Cut from the trunk hinge out towards the tree top, using your grapple to protect the fence, or to lift and hold the trunk at the broken hinge point.

5 minutes with a chainsaw cutting a couple of 16 inch sections from the trunk and you're out of jeopardy. The rest is basic clean up.

I cut a tree like this on Tuesday while visiting my son's place outside Tulsa, albeit it was overhanging a pipe fence into his horse paddock rather than a wire fence.

 

[1 Old Man]

I find many of the things I worry about never happen...and it's easy to over complicate an issue in my head.

Do as you mention in your last comment Mr. Torvy. Cut from the trunk hinge out towards the tree top, using your grapple to protect the fence, or to lift and hold the trunk at the broken hinge point.

5 minutes with a chainsaw cutting a couple of 16 inch sections from the trunk and you're out of jeopardy. The rest is basic clean up.

I cut a tree like this on Tuesday while visiting my son's place outside Tulsa, albeit it was overhanging a pipe fence into his horse paddock rather than a wire fence.

Mr Torvy has the right idea. I did exactly what Backroad said earlier this year removing one of
several storm damaged trees. Grapple and chain saw. Stack the cut offs right and the grapple
can snatch it up PDQ.

 

[CliffordK]

Limb the top to get the weight off.
Cut that first branch going down to the ground, let the next two carry the weight. Get the tractor bucket under the horizontal stem. Cut the standing trunk at a point higher than the fence. Drive the tractor so the stem clears and set it down.

I'm sure there will be all sorts of "but but and buts, but from a single image, and not being there. let this be a conversation starter.

My guess is the branches aren't really supporting it. My guess is the tree is resting on the canopy and the broken trunk. When the trunk is completely severed, it may unpredictably twist and fall to one side or the other. Whichever way it twists, it looks like the severed butt end will still fall on your fence.

To explain, it looks unpredictable whether the tree will fall to the left or to the right when severed. One limb is already resting on your fence. What I think is predictable is that when severed, the butt end is going to want to spring out towards your property and fall in an arc even further onto your fence.

Also looks like maybe 1/3 of the splintered trunk is holding the tree up with a lot of weight of the trunk exerting leverage on the splintered hinge.


View attachment 3578884

I'm not convinced that the tree will try to jump back upright. A lot of the trunk is broken.

So, I would probably do something like CalG suggested. Cut that first branch off of the fence. Then progressively work from the former top of the tree back towards the trunk. I usually don't think of using the tractor for something like that, but it isn't a bad idea to support, then cut loose and ease it to the ground.

Everything is pretty high off of the ground which will make everything harder and perhaps more dangerous.

BE CAREFUL

 

[2manyrocks]

I'm not saying the tree will attempt to right itself, but it does look like it is mostly resting on the tree canopy and at the split on the tree trunk. When the tree trunk is severed, I expect that end of the tree is going to fall downwards and towards the clearing. Whether it falls to the left or the right looks unpredicable. With the trunk being in the air, that makes it more dangerous to cut, and that's why I'd try to pull it down with a long enough cable or chain to get out from under the fall area. But with there being a new fence under the fall area, I understand not wanting to crush the fence.

 

[newbury]

The far side of the fence is leased to a big chicken operation. To the right, the property on the other side is owned by a huge corporation. Both properties are unused at present, but I cannot easily contact the property owners.

Big difference. If you need to just work on YOUR side of the fence, AND you can cut the fence AND repair the fence, it seems your only option to DIY is drop the fence, cut the tree at the base and while putting force on it to drag it to your side, then dispose of it as you want.