Harrowsmith – September 2019

Harrowsmith Fall 2019 | 197

STEP 1: CUT DOWN A TREE

There are three cuts needed

to safely fell a nearly vertical,

complication-free tree. If a tree is

leaning heavily in one direction,

or if it’s within two trunk lengths

of a power line or building, don’t

cut it down yourself. The risk is

too high. Hire an experienced

and insured arborist if the tree

needs to come down.

Before you get started, cut and

remove any saplings, bushes or

dead branches from around the

tree. You’ll need a clear escape

route to briskly step away from

the tree as it falls. Now’s the time

to create one.

The first two of the three

felling cuts you’ll make in the

trunk create a wedge of wood

that’s removed from the trunk,

some distance up from the

ground and one-third of the way

through, on the side that the tree

will naturally fall toward. The

third felling cut is horizontal,

entering the side of the trunk

that’s opposite the wedge, 5 cm

(2 inches) above its bottom face,

and extending inward within

several inches of its point. The

fact that the third cut doesn’t

intersect with the first two is key.

It’s this feature that preserves

uncut wood fibres across the

centre of the trunk, creating the

all-important hinging action

that keeps the tree under some

control as you step aside yelling

“Timber!” Put on your safety

equipment (see “Essential Safety

HOME & DESIGN: TREE CUTTING

IF TREES GROW WHERE YOU LIVE, THEN CUTTING THEM CAN BE A REWARDING

STEWARDSHIP RESPONSIBILITY. IT CAN ALSO BE A GREAT WAY TO HEAT YOUR

HOME. I’VE BEEN CUTTING FIREWOOD AND HEATING WITH IT FOR 30 YEARS, AND

THERE ARE FIVE MAIN STEPS TO THE PROCESS. LEARN TO DO THESE YOURSELF

AND YOU’LL ENJOY A SUSTAINABLE, AFFORDABLE AND EFFECTIVE SOURCE OF

OFF-GRID HEAT.