Removing a tree requires the use of power tools such as a handsaw or a chainsaw. The process of removing a tree should begin with careful planning and follow by proper execution. It will help a lot if you ask someone with experience operating a chainsaw if it's your first time doing it. Make sure to obtain the requirements before getting started.

Prepare to Cut Down the Tree
Prepare the area to prevent accidents when the tree falls. Look at where the tree is falling and its surrounding area. Make sure it's far from your house or any fixed structure, including power lines. Get someone experienced in removing a tree to help you in the process. Consider trees as well. Removing a tree may affect other trees, especially ones that are weaker and smaller.

Decide What Direction to Fell a Tree
It is crucial to find out where the tree is falling to ensure you and your property's safety. If the tree is leaning towards one direction, it is best to fell it in that way. Just make sure there are no structures that will be affected.

Getting Away
Don't begin sawing until you have removed undergrowth around the tree. Get rid of fallen limbs, branches, and other obstruction in the way.

Clearing Tree Limbs and Buttress Roots from a Tree
Clear the lower part of the tree of any small branches and buttresses using the chainsaw.  You can use a pulling chain to remove branches. At a downward angle, begin cutting from the top. Don't cut limbs that go higher than your shoulders because it is perilous.

Directional Felling: How to Fell a Tree in the Right Direction
The direction of the tree's fall largely depends on the first few cuts you make or what is called the directional notch. You can make a directional notch in different ways, including the open directional notch.

Use these practical steps to make an open directional notch using a chainsaw:

• Decide where exactly you want the tree to fall. Use any landmark in your surrounding as a guide when planning the cut.
• At a 60-degree angle, make a top cut into the tree's trunk. Saw the trunk at 20-25% deep of its diameter.
• You should make a horizontal cut that meets the first cut you made. This will now serve as a notch carved of the tree's side at the felling direction.
• There should be no objects or people within the zone to ensure safety.
• Saw a horizontal cut slightly above the undercut. Halt sawing just before you reach the directional notch. Doing this will create a hinge that will help make the tree fall in a controlled direction.
• With a felling wedge used as a lever, you can begin felling the tree.
• Always keep watch of the falling tree. Move quickly yet calmly away from the falling tree. You should move at a 90-degree angle from the tree to protect yourself from the tree and the opposite side where the tree separates from the trunk.

Cutting Down Large Trees
In cutting a large tree, it is vital to use the right cutting technique. If you have a large tree that has a diameter larger than the chainsaw bar, a plunge cut is necessary.

A felling wedge and a breaker are some of the tools you will need to safely and successfully cut down a tree.

• Determine the exact location where you want the tree to fall. Use an object or a landmark as a guide when planning your cut.
• You need to cut the directional notch from two angles because the trunk is larger than the chainsaw. Saw at a 60-degree angle from the top of the trunk. Saw at a depth of 20-25% of the tree's diameter. Make sure that the notches are even by lining up the cuts as close as you can.
• A horizontal undercut that joins the top cut should be made. The cut should be from both sides of the tree, making sure that you are making a straight undercut. The notch should now be carved at the direction of the fall.
• There should be no one within the danger zone of the falling tree.
• The plunge cut can be created by inserting the lower section of the chainsaw into the trunk. Make sure not to let the upper part of the chainsaw bar nose to touch the tree.
• After placing the nose of the chainsaw into the trunk, adjust it until it's parallel with the directional notch.
• Put pressure to the chainsaw as it cuts into the tree.
• Carefully saw the trunk. Once you've reached the middle of the trunk, put the felling wedge into the tree to keep the chainsaw from getting stuck in the tree.
• Don't pull the chainsaw out of the trunk if it gets stuck. Turn the engine off and use the wedge or breaking bar to loosen up the trunk, then you can pull the saw carefully.
• Keep sawing until the directional notch is side by side with the chainsaw. 
• There may be a need for you to hammer the wedge to get the tree to fall. In some instances, you will need two or more wedges to get the job done. A breaker bar will come handy to work the tree until it starts falling.
• Keep your eyes glued on the falling tree. Move swiftly but calmly to a safe area. Move at a 90-degree direction from the falling tree to ensure that you're far from the felling zone and the direction where the tree separates from the stump.

Rotten or Dead Trees
When it comes to felling a dead or rotten tree, you may need help from expert tree service. It is extra challenging to remove trees of this kind, and you need to practice extra caution. If you see that the trunk is hollow or discolored, it can be an indication of rot in its interior. It is crucial to use a larger hinge to effectively and safely remove rotten and dead trees.

Lodged Tree
Don't leave the tree that is stuck in another tree without addressing the matter. You should call a professional tree service company right away if the tree lodges in a tree on its way down. You should make the pedestrians aware of the danger by roping the area, then call for help.  

Learn more.  

If you have ever cut a tree down in your life, you know that it is not a simple job. The truth is, cutting a tree is a dangerous task, and it can cause severe injuries if not done correctly.

If you are planning to cut a tree on your own, you should make a careful consideration of the things you need to do before getting the chainsaw and cutting the tree. You don't want to end up on a hospital bed because of negligence and the wrong thought that it is a job that an average guy can do. In this blog, we will discuss important things that you need for cutting a tree. We hope that this can help you cut that tree down correctly and safely.

Materials You Need
When cutting down a tree, you will need:

• Logger's helmet- This is important to protect your head from falling limbs and branches that can cause head injury during logging.
• Earmuffs- The chainsaw can create too much noise, and you need earmuffs to protect your ears from the noise. When there are too many trees to cut down in a day, you might find it difficult to hear correctly at the end of the day.
• Face Screen- Tree bark and other tree debris scan fly from all directions when you are cutting a tree. A face screen is essential to protect your face, especially your eyes from flying wood chips that can cause you to go blind. We highly recommend you using eyewear to protect your eyes, as well as, a mask to cover your mouth to avoid ingesting small particles of bark.
• Chaps- Working with a chainsaw instantly puts yourself in danger. Chaps stop the chainsaw right away in case you accidentally drop it against your leg. Once the chainsaw gets any close to you, chaps significantly lessen the possibility of damage. You don't want to risk your life for cutting down a single tree.
• Felling Wedges- Felling wedges are a significant investment. It prevents your saw from tweaking during a chainsaw cut. They will not cost you much and will help you cut down larger trees easier.

 
Check the Tree to See if it is Out of Your Capacity
Before you begin cutting the tree, the first thing you should do is assess the tree and the entire situation and see if it is something within your limits. It is best to know what you are capable and not capable of doing before you start cutting that tree only to leave it unfinished. Remember that not all trees are the same. They should be handled differently, and they need a proper approach to be able to cut them down correctly. One good example is a tree close to a power line, fences, or building. If you see that this is the case for you, it is much better to call a professional tree company to handle tree cutting for you. If you try to do it yourself and it falls in the wrong direction, you will be held financially liable for damaged properties.

Also, the lack of proper equipment can make it difficult for you to cut down a tree. If a tree is leaning heavily on one side, chances are it will fall on that side. Having a crane will make the work more comfortable for you, but you may not have it at your disposal that is why in this situation, leave it to the professional.  Further, you may also want to check if it is safe for you to climb up the tree. Inspect the tree for dead or broken branches. One wrong step on these branches can cause you injury, so you have to be extra careful.
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Estimate the Falling Distance
Once you are done assessing the tree and you have your safety gears on, the next step is to estimate where the tree will fall. This is a crucial part of the process of cutting down a tree. If a tree falls on you, you will inevitably end up in the hospital, and that's the least we want to happen. Some trees reach a height of more than 200 ft. That is why it can be challenging to tell where it can be falling. To accurately estimate where the tree will fall, you should measure the height of the tree using a crane. Use a tape measure to find out the exact distance of the fall. Another technique is by holding your ax upside down and outstretch your hand. Move back with one eye closed until the ax barely "covers" the sight of the tree. This will help you determine whether the top of the tree will fall in the direction you desire. This is an essential part of making sure you and your property are safe when the tree falls, so we highly recommend you to give it time and effort. You don't want to be surprised that the tree falls exactly on your roof once the process is done.
 
Clear a Separate Escape Route
Without the aid of cables and braces, it will be difficult to say where the tree will exactly fall. There are also other natural forces that can make it challenging for you to cut it down. One example is wind. We cannot control where the wind blows, and the wind may cause the tree to fall on the opposite direction of where you originally planned it to take down. If this happens, you should be ready with a plan. Make sure you clear an escape route opposite the direction of where you wanted your tree to fall. This will allow you to have a place to run to in case the tree falls toward you. Safety should always come first; that is why you need to be ready with an alternate path for yourself when the unexpected happens. Cutting down a tree is never an easy task. Even the most professional tree service can still get themselves hurt due to unforeseen situations that is why we encourage you to practice caution when cutting down a tree.