Whether you have an unsightly tree on your property, one that is damaged from extreme storm disasters, or you are planning some new construction projects on your property that require clearing your land, this article is for you. Tree cutting is a method of removing trees from an area by, you guessed it, cutting them down. 

If you are doing this on your own, there are many considerations to keep in mind to cut a tree safely and efficiently. Neglecting these considerations could leave you or your tree badly injured, and set your property up for hazardous conditions in the future. 

One of the more pertinent pieces of advice we’d give to an individual cutting down their tree is to choose proper safety gear. There are many hardware stores across Melbourne that offer items like safety goggles, logging hard hats, earmuffs, and chaps to protect your body. Any chainsaw work should be handled with caution, especially cutting trees. 

It is also important to map where you intend for your tree to fall, and where it could fall if disaster strikes. Trees are taller than you think and can fall to the ground faster than you expect. Methods like the “axe handle trick” can help you map out where your tree *should* fall, based on the height of the tree. This is just an estimate, though, so give yourself some wiggle room on this measurement. Along with this, you need to clear a cutting zone by cutting away the brush from around the tree and creating 2 escape routes on the non-falling side of the tree. 

Evaluate your tree – are there any dangerous dead branches? Are you close to any power cables or important structures near you? Is the tree leaning heavily to one side? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” you should call a professional service like Dynamic Arborist and turn-in your hard hat. 

It is also important to use proper equipment and to know how to cut a proper notch. Not having either of these in your metaphorical (and literal) toolbox is unwise and can set you up for an unsafe tree cutting. 

It also may be best to do this with someone else present. Someone that can be your “lookout” to watch what is happening above you when your head is down and you are working at the notch toward the bottom of your tree. In some cases, having a buddy to watch up top could save your life. 

Cutting the tree into smaller pieces as you go is also wise, so that you don’t have an irregularly shaped mass toppling down at the end of your cut. 

For the experienced property owner or manual worker, this may seem like an easy job for a Monday morning. For others, this all may sound overwhelming. Here at Dynamic Arborist, we advise that if you’re uncomfortable to any degree with this type of work, call in a professional. You will never look back on saying “yes” to safety and asking our services to help you cut down trees on your property.