Removing Half-down Dead Elm Branch with Tow Rope and Tractor

Down at the low end of our driveway we have a fairly large dead Elm tree. It's probably 40-50 years old and right above our vinyl fence. I don't know if it is Dutch Elms Disease, but something is killing that species of tree in our area and it got this one last summer. Limbs have been falling from it since last winter.

Just before Spring, I contacted the tree removal company that I use and the owner, Toby, came out and looked at this tree and one other I wanted to take out. He told me he was two weeks behind, but said I might need to remind him to come if I hadn't heard from him in two weeks. I forgot to call him back.

Earlier this week, we had some storms roll through, and I woke up the next morning and saw that the top of the dead Elm tree had come down over the driveway and we couldn't get out. I managed to get enough of the limbs cut away with my electric chainsaw so we could just squeeze a vehicle by, and studied how I'd get the big limb down to the ground. The outer portion was on the ground, the big end was still attached to the tree.

My first thought was to lift the limb up with the pallet forks of the tractor and cut the outer limbs off and get as much weight off of it as I could, then gently let it down. The problem with that plan was, when you did let it down, you'd have no control where it would go once it separated from the tree. I surmised it would be a better idea to leave it as one piece.

My second plan was to wrap a strap around it and lift it our of the way with my pallet forks, pulling on it if I had to. The problem with that idea was that I'd be right under the dead tree, on my tractor seat, at a right angle to the trunk. If, for some strange reason, the whole tree came down, it might land in my lap. Didn't want that to happen! My daughter begged me not to do anything unsafe in this situation and I listened. I'd rather swallow my pride than get crushed by a tree, on video, in front of my family.

So, I went and borrowed a 30 foot, 30,000 lb. tow rope from my neighbor Wes. I wrapped a 6' strap around the tree, hooked the tow rope to the strap and ran it to the draw bar of my tractor. I would be trying to pull the limb out of the tree a safe distance away, and if the tree fell down it wouldn't hit me. Only object in danger was my vinyl fence, but that can be fixed.

The first pull I headed West and there was some noise, but the limb held on to the tree and caused the tires on the tractor to spin. The next run, I headed North and pulled the limb 10 feet the other way. There were a lot of cracking noises from the wood coming loose, but the limb held. The next attempt was headed Southwest. There was more tire spinning and a lot of splintering, but the limb stayed in the tree. Finally, I adjusted my direction and headed South and that was the right thing to do. The limb detached from the tree and came crashing down, missing me, the tractor, and the fence.

Now all I have to do is carry the limbs away, but that won't take long. I was glad I had listened to my wife and daughter and not tried anything that would have put me in danger. Because another storm was predicted that night, I wanted to get the limb down as soon as possible, it was nearing sundown and I was in a hurry, and that could have put me in a dangerous situation if I had gone with my original plan. Sometimes it's best to cool your jets a little bit and listen to those around you who want to keep you safe.

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[charlesrose]

That’s a smart wife you’ve got! Two heads are better than one! 😀

[John]

Yeah. I was looking at the beginning thinking, “We would drawbar that” if wanting to pull.

Glad you and your fence made it out safely!

[fhuber]

Put a 1/3 full sandbag across your tow rope at about the middle. Then if it snaps or it's anchor comes loose, it will direct the rope down.

People have been killed by tow ropes that came loose.

I have seen a heavy rope snap and cut a 6 inch thick armored hatch (watertight door) on an aircraft carrier in half.

Recently there was a posting about a hitch being used to pull a vehicle out of mud failing and the rope snapped that back through the jeep's windshield killing the driver.

Also note, that drawbar's hitch pin is not rated for the force you can put on it trying to yank things like that tree.

[aussiefarmer]

This is where all the arborists have a field day with your methods. I'm ok with it . Well done.

[curtwhite]

Well done. It is great when we go from plan A to B to C and then D without actually failing... sometimes thinking ahead again and again (and again) works out well.

[douglassellers]

Man you got lucky. I thought that old stringy Elm was going to bring the whole tree. Good job.

[CliffsideStables]

You might benefit by removing several sections of the vinyl fence, take that tree down as well as the one behind it and then replace the vinyl posts and horizontal planks. Tim in northern TN

[Dennis-qbfs]

That must have been the same storm system that hit here (NW TN.) at about 3:00 A.M. and woke me up. It was almost constant daylight from massive lightning with high wind gusts. Once again, picking up all the limbs and sticks takes me hours before I can mow anything. I had a few “hangers” myself, but nowhere as big as that limb. My Kubota B2620 does not do that size of limb; I must take more significant risks. Such is life.

[farmsome]

I'm glad to see you hooked to the hitch, much more effective than the loader. How did the pallet fork handle the limb once it was down, it seems like almost too much for your loader. Glad you and the fence were safe.

[patdaugherty]

Apparently, you know a lineman? I've got one of those ropes off of a utility line truck, too.

[patrickwentworth]

You got lucky. A simple throw ball to secure a let down rope into the fork above the break would have allowed you to remove small branches until, you had only a large piece left which would have been let down once it was freed.

[markchoate]

You're mighty fortunate, Mike. I had to remove a dead Elm last spring that was next to my white fence and a limb broke and broke my fence. I was able to repair it, but it was a pain in the butt. Anyway, congratulations to you and "the team."

[wallyzworld]

I'm dealing with this all the time. One tool a invested in is a Echo PPF 2620 fixed length pole saw. Bought it to trim the trees up for clearance of tractor, but use it more for cleaning up the broken limbs and downed trees. Allows you to reach in and take off all the small limbs and remove a lot of the weight.

[jamesmorrison]

Well Mike you dont have good talent on this but you have it down thats all that matters. Dont be offended im your friend have a good day.

[GDyer-clfl]

I do not know how these fences are made but too bad you could not take a couple sections out first to prevent damage

[ronevans]

Exactly, Im in same boat I have 22 acres and trees falling all the time . Matter of fact, I’ve got one stuck in the top of another tree, waiting to fall on my fence line. Hate it cause I’ve sold my big tractor and all my implements. Now have my small tractor, I can still get some of the jobs done. But I’m getting too old to have to deal with stuff. Can’t find anyone that wants to work. Tree company wants a lot of money these day. And when you’re retired you just don’t have the money.

[kevinbrewer]

I've done the same thing. Owning rural property it is a regular thing to do after a storm. Having a polesaw is a good tool to have for situations like this.

[patrickcorbett]

Good job Mike...what did you do with the limb ? Firewood ?
pc

[robertwaterhouse]

Mike, I'm sure glad to know that I'm not the only one facing similar tree situations on my place too. At first, I thought that u might want to call your tree guy back. But, then, your approach to tackling the matter on your own, was really a good idea. Something, I find myself doing what you did all the time. I'm glad it all turned out great.

[robertfakler]

How about taking down a section of fence to protect it, and then just chain saw the entire tree down.