Factors That Influence How Tree Felling Works

Tree Felling is the process of cutting down trees, either with hand tools or powered machinery. This can be done for a variety of reasons, including to prevent damage to property or to remove dead or dangerous trees. However, indiscriminate felling of trees can also have negative environmental consequences, such as soil erosion and loss of biodiversity.

Typically, the first step in felling a tree is to cut a notch into the trunk, which helps guide the fall of the tree. However, many factors can affect how a tree falls, so it is vital to ensure that people and property are kept out of the way.

A poorly executed or planned felling operation can result in severe injury or death to the saw operator or bystanders. The best way to avoid this is to thoroughly plan the felling work and ensure that all relevant risks are identified and addressed before commencing the job. This can include ensuring that any obstacles such as power lines, roads and buildings are clear of the path of the falling tree, as well as identifying any slopes or other potential hazards.

Once all of these risk factors are identified, the feller must then make a series of cuts called ‘felling cuts’ that help direct the tree’s fall. Ideally, these should be made on both sides of the tree to maximise the direction in which it will fall. This will also help minimise the chance of ‘wind-throw’, in which the wind will cause a tree to suddenly move in a different direction.

The location and the purpose of felling can also influence how a tree will respond to the felling cuts. For example, a tree that is heavily infested with rot will likely have weaker fibres and may be more inclined to swing or jump when it is felled. Therefore, the feller should be more careful and use a winch if necessary to control the movement of the tree as it falls.

Another factor that can impact a tree’s behaviour is its height, which will influence how far it can fall before coming to rest. If the tree is very tall, it can be difficult to predict where it will land and will pose a greater risk to bystanders. The feller should be aware of this and ensure that a clear escape path is clearly marked. This includes clearing away obscuring shrubs and cutting back branches to give people a chance to get out of the way.

It is important to note that any person who is involved in the felling of a tree (including the sawyer, groundman and supervisor) must have a valid licence unless an exemption applies. Anyone who is found to be working without a licence or is carrying out the felling of an illegal tree can face criminal prosecution.

source https://treeaestheticswa.wordpress.com/2025/04/05/factors-that-influence-how-tree-felling-works/