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ENGL
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• Any unusual heavy limb structure or
decay.
• Surrounding trees and obstacles
including overhead lines and underground
drains.
• The wind speed and direction.
Pre-plan a safe exit from falling trees or
branches. Make sure that the exit route is
clear of obstacles that would prevent or
hinder movement. Remember wet grass
and freshly cut bark is slippery.
Do not attempt to fell trees where the
tree diameter is greater than the cutting
length of the chainsaw.
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A direction notch is cut to determine the
direction of fall.
A horizontal cut is made to a depth of
between 1/5th and 1/3rd of the diameter
of the tree, perpendicular to the line of fall
at the base of the tree (PIC 9). The second
cut is made from above to intersect with
the first and make a notch of about 45°.
Make a single horizontal felling cut from
the other side 1-2 inches above the centre
of the direction notch. (PIC 10). Do not cut
through to the direction notch, you could
lose control of the direction of fall.
Drive a wedge or wedges into the felling
cut to open it and drop the tree (PIC 11).
PIC 9
PIC 11
PIC 10
PRUNING TREES
Make sure that there are no local by-laws or regulations that would prohibit or control the
pruning of the tree limbs. Pruning should only be undertaken by experienced users
there is an increased risk of the saw chain pinching and kick back.
Before pruning consideration should be given to conditions affecting the direction of
fall including:
• The length and weight of the branch to be cut.
• Any unusual heavy limb structure or decay.
• Surrounding trees and obstacles including overhead.
• The wind speed and direction.
• The branch being intertwined with other branches.
The operator should consider access to the tree limb and the direction of fall. The tree
branch is liable to swing towards the tree trunk. In addition to the user bystanders,
objects and property below the branch will be at risk. To avoid splintering, the first cut
is made in an upward direction to a maximum depth of one third the diameter of the
branch. The second cut is made downwards to meet the first.