If you are a property owner who has trees that are leaning or have large trees that are becoming hazardous, there are some options for you to consider to safely and securely cut them. You can either hire a service provider to remove the tree or you can learn how to cut a tree in preparation of the storm season. This is especially important if there are several trees on your property, since they will need to be removed from the property during different storms. When you understand how to cut a tree safely, you will be able to use any available fixings to remove the tree or at least make it safer.
One option for removing leaning trees is using a chainsaw. However, this might not be an option if the area around the felling trees is packed full of earth and debris. Also, these machines are not very efficient, so this would require the assistance of a lot of people or a number of machines. Also, these tend to rip the bark off the tree and this will affect the strength of the next step.
A safer alternative that involves using a digging shovel or a pry bar is to carefully dig around the edge of the falling tree and push it in the opposite direction. For instance, if the tree is leaning west-to-east, dig east-west around the leaning tree. This may not be a viable option during severe storms, as the direction of the soil could shift. However, if you know that you will be working during a storm and your tree is in the leaning direction, this may be the best way to remove it. If you choose this method during a slight to moderate storm, the tree may break free from the supporting roots and fall in the opposite direction of your home.
A second approach involves using a chisel. This step can work if the soil is soft and compact enough. However, it will be difficult to cut through tree trunks that are deeper. For this type of felling direction, a large piece of plywood or lumber could be used and inserted into the gap. However, leaning trees can easily break through this piece of wood if they are angled at an angle that is less than 90 degrees.
An alternative to using a digging fork or a chisel is to use a chainsaw. The chainsaw can cut through tree trunks even if they are leaning toward the owner's side of the home in an apparent hazardous falling direction. However, one of the biggest problems with using a chainsaw for felling a leaning tree is the likelihood of cutting branches that are located in the owner's view. For this reason, a chainsaw cannot be used to fell trees that are located behind or below a home.
A third option that works especially well is a pry bar. A pry bar resembles a small chisel and can easily dig through the earth in a leaning tree direction. The only issue with using a pry bar is the angle of the handle when it is in contact with the tree, making it more likely to miss a part of the tree while trying to maneuver it in the direction of the homeowner's desired exit.