Tree Removal in My Front Yard
September 6, 2006 – 8:13 pm | by gaulardcom
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This is a funny story and hopefully one I can keep short. I seem to have developed a knack for writing too much. See, there I go again.
The Red Oak tree is now gone. A flourishing garden is beginning to grow. There is only one more slight problem. A Red Maple with a rotten base remains. We get nervous about these trees because of the winter wind. Every time I heard a gust of wind last year when I was sleeping, my eyes would pop wide open because I was expecting a big “Crack” to follow. It never happened, but I really would like to get a good night sleep this go-round.
This tree wasn’t nearly as difficult to take down as the Oak. There were more, but smaller branches on this one. I said that I would do it slowly with a pole saw that I recently purchased. Sounds weird, but hear me out. I don’t have a wood chipper so I am forced to drag anything that I cut down all…the…way back in the woods to the rear most part of the property. That is about a 2 acre walk. It isn’t fun. I was determined to cut this tree down by myself because I had experience…yes, experience. I used to work at SavATree in Bedford Hills, NY when I was 18 years old and also C.V. Trees for many years after that. I knew how to climb and was actually quite good at it. I just didn’t have the right tools (ropes, saddle, spikes) anymore. But what I did have was my new chainsaw and pole saw.
To start things off, I extended the pole saw to it’s full 14 feet length. Then I took off about 5 of the lowest branches. I dragged them all the way back in the woods. This lightened up the tree. The next day, I took off about 5 more and dragged them back. Hmmmm, I was feeling motivated. I went back to cut some more. The pole saw really wouldn’t reach any more branches that easily. I was really motivated to get this tree on the ground because I had more pressing projects to get to. I had an idea…
I went into my basement and got my 15′ rope and tied it to the handle of my chainsaw. Then, I tied a knot at the other end of the rope. I put my 13′ ladder up against the tree. I climbed the ladder with the knot end of the rope in my hand and the chainsaw on the ground. I grabbed the lowest nub of wood that was about 15′ off the ground and climbed up to the lowest crotch of the tree. I sat there and then pulled up the rope with the chainsaw attached. I put the knot through a higher crotch so it was hanging. Then I climbed up the uppermost crotch and pulled the chainsaw to my hands. I started the saw and cut about half the branches off. I was on a roll. Then, I cut a pretty big one off and it landed on its end and fell backwards, knocking the ladder down. Hmmmm, that was a problem. Now I was up about 25 feet with no way of getting down. Oh well, I have been in worse situations. I kept cutting and about after 5 minutes all the branches were on the ground. I climbed down a bit to the lowest crotch and cut some more. Then came the challenging part…getting down. I lowered the chainsaw to the ground and let go. Then, I hugged the tree with my legs and the inside of my arms. I slid all the way down and looked at myself and smiled. Some scratches, but what a ride!
Now I had a nice big stump sticking out of the ground. I cut that bad boy down to watch it bounce off the ground and land perfectly where I wanted it.
I cut the wood up to give away to Paul and called it a day. I should’ve known the pole saw thing was never going to work. Why do I bother trying to do things slowly?
I guess this story wasn’t all that short after all…
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Tags: 18 years, acre, bedford hills ny, chainsaw, crack, end of the rope, funny story, gust, knack, knot, red maple, red oak tree, right tools, ropes, savatree, sleep, spikes, Trees & Shrubs, winter wind
One Response to “Tree Removal in My Front Yard”
By Tree Removal Dude on May 5, 2008 | Reply
Congratulations on getting the tree down. I’ve seen so many people ignore trees that are sick or rotting until it’s too late and then they have to deal with the tree that is lying accross their attics.