Cutting Dangerous Branches

onyerbikepat

We have about 5 large trees that had big branches snap and fall over during the big storm. They are still held where they snapped, about 20 to 30 feet up. They fell across a small river into a neighbours place, which is not accessible as it is too wet.
How would you go about cutting these SAFELY?
I have been using a chainsaw for over 20 years so I can see the danger in them, with trapped tension and all that.
Even to go at them with a cherry-picker would be dangerous, I think. Some of them could be 3 to 4 feet diameter.

Normally with something like this I would get a long strap and pull them where they snapped with the tractor. Cut them on the ground then, no bother. But these are too big and even at that, I cant get at them with the tractor.

Oldtree

onyerbikepat wrote: »

We have about 5 large trees that had big branches snap and fall over during the big storm. They are still held where they snapped, about 20 to 30 feet up. They fell across a small river into a neighbours place, which is not accessible as it is too wet.
How would you go about cutting these SAFELY?
I have been using a chainsaw for over 20 years so I can see the danger in them, with trapped tension and all that.
Even to go at them with a cherry-picker would be dangerous, I think. Some of them could be 3 to 4 feet diameter.

Normally with something like this I would get a long strap and pull them where they snapped with the tractor. Cut them on the ground then, no bother. But these are too big and even at that, I cant get at them with the tractor.

Pat, those large heavy branches can kill you very easily unless you are used to climbing trees and doing tree surgery, so please don't risk it. You really need a tree surgeon. Your life is worth more than the cost. Phone around for a few quotes and ask inquiring questions about previous experience.

Rovi

A tracked digger with a grab is a mighty job for this sort of thing, if something like that could be organised?

Failing that, a properly qualified person with the right equipment (ie. tractor winch or similar) and the knowledge of how to safely dismantle heavy timber under stress is really the only prudent course of action.

onyerbikepat

No, I'm well aware of the danger. Just wondering who or what to get to cut them. i may just leave them altogether as teh land is very wet on the side they fell.
I cant even figure how a tree surgeon woudl go about them. A large digger might be the job alright.

Rovi

All the lads with the qualifications and equipment to deal with big windblow are off tidying up after storm Darwin!

If there's no immediate pressing need to tidy up or remove these trees, leaving them be for the moment is probably the best thing to do.

A pro at this stuff will spend a lot of time looking and planning before ever firing up a saw.
They'll assess the forces acting on the timber and will 'disarm' them with a series of judicious cuts before any timber ever hits the ground.
It's as much art as science, and requires the expert wielding of biggish saws in difficult and potentially very dangerous situations.

kay 9

If also go the pro route if you have a single doubt on your mind off the job on hand. Not worth getting hurt over or someone else. Otherwise if you're handy, maybe a cherry picker and take them down in sections? Can't say for sure without seeing them and the ground under foot