How To Cut Down a Dangerous Leaning Tree

cutting down a dangerous leaning tree. felling a leaner is always dangerous but few simple tricks can mitigate the risk

Here is what happens if your make a mistake on a leaning tree

here are my 3 favorite videos on felling a leaning tree:

@OutdoorsWithTheMorgans

@terryhale9006

@guiltyoftreesoneastsidetre4792

[davidmays]

That tree is an accurate representation in shape of the lumber I purchase from retail stores.

[JeffGeorgalas]

As someone with quite a bit of cutting experience (although far from claiming to be a pro), I knew pretty much everything that you explained in this video, but could probably never have explained it as well or thoroughly as you did. You did a fine job of explaining everything. You also did a great job of actually felling the tree. Of course you're always going to have the pseudo pros that tell you what you did wrong, or what you could have done better, but to me, that tree did exactly what you wanted it to do, and don't personally see anything that I'd have done differently. Nice job Brock!

[barnybrewman]

Excellent video. Like my grandpa once told me about working in the woods, the way to tell a good feller from a bad one, is that the good one is still alive.

[PapawMule]

Lifetime logger here. He got it rite. Safest way to get it down.

[unclemoe]

This was a great tutorial! I spent 40 years in the industry. So many people pretending to know what they are doing is a scary. Their should be mandatory training for tree workers!

[todd]

Brock, I have used that same method several times in the past couple of years. I have been cutting trees for firewood for around 42 years and can't believe how wrong I was doing it on many occasions but luckily never got hurt. I will say though that the one one thing I have always done in the woods is clear two escape paths away from the tree as well as a large circumference area around the base of the tree; even if it took 15-20 minutes to do when under growth was thick. Great video!!

[Bushman]

Best part was reviewing the cuts at the stump afterwards.
This is where you see exactly what you did and where the improvements could be made next time.

[RobertBrothersJr-dcnr]

Excellent video Brock. You did an excellent job explaining your methodology. I learned a tremendous amount from this video. I don’t have much experience cutting trees and from time to time I need to cut down one. Thanks for a fantastic video.

[nigelsansom]

This was very instructive, many thanks for posting. Some years ago I had a very large ancient poplar about five feet at the base and very tall with about a 30 degree lean. What put me off attempting it (apart from the size) was the fact that it had a hollow interior with much of the heartwood rotted away. I decided to call in a professional and was so pleased to recognise a dangerous situation on that occasion. However, after watching your video I have a new found respect for much smaller leaning trees and something new in my mind about how to treat them. So, thank you, I shall definitely be employing this technique rather than just trusting gravity to take care of most of the thinking/planning.

[ActiveJoe]

A well detailed set of steps to handle a problematic tree job. Thanks for sharing.. All the best and God Bless. 🙏❤🇺🇸

[edeaglehouse]

That's a lot more advanced than I thought. Yeah, I won't be cutting down a leaning tree like that one. For the people who don't understand why the tree splitting would be dangerous, think of the split portion as a large lever that will launch you into the other trees with extreme prejudice. The chains was a great safety device to lessen the chance of that happening if you'd made a mistake and cut the "trigger" too thin. Thanks for the educational explanations and demonstration.

[drrussdc]

1. Learning from mistakes is important.
2. Not making big mistakes is even more important.

Excellent video!

[btcolber]

Excellent Video, I fell plenty of trees for firewood- on agreement with the owners- dead trees, dying trees, trees that need removing for whatever reason. Only had a couple of very hard leaners -which made me very very cautious- and a little nervous. Following this video to the letter gave a clear path to follow, with no nasty surprises. Only difference was I wrapped a high strength rope, 10 times aound the trunk, about a foot above the cuts.

[FirewoodInTheField]

Brock, thanks for taking the time to show this technique with explaining how it all works!

[johngersna]

Good morning Brock. Excellent video. Who says that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Very informative. God bless and have a wonderful day. 👍👍🙂

[jeromebecigneul]

That really is one very much leaning tree. never seen it done that way but it certainly work out nicely, Good seeing you out there Brock. have a great day and stay safe in the crazy weather we've had this Spring.

[whiskeythree]

Perfect format -- you covered the important info & kept it concise.

Besides that, this info will help me this year for sure -- I cut trees to heat the home.

Was that a new chain? Couldn't believe how you cut right into the heart of the tree from the side!

Appreciate ya.

[OverkillWoodcraft]

Great video and regardless of the minor improvements, beautiful fall. I swear 2/10 of the trees I fell on my property are like this and require a bore cut, except I have zero flat ground... Never cut some of the hinge away before because they've all been half rotted in the middle, but I'll see if that can be done on some upcoming trees. Also never thought about wrapping chains, thanks for the insights!

[brucehackett]

You can tell I didn't skip ahead on this thing. I was just listening to him and spouting and doing things that really weren't required. Putting chain around is ridiculous if you cut through and leave enough of a hinge in order to direct the fall and then you cut away from the notch. You don't have to cut from the back. You just continued cutting away until you cut through the balance of the back of the tree. The tree will fall easily. It's no big deal.

[kelseyboy]

i loved the video, good training, explanation was on point, i love the self critique at the end, for all that you get a subscribe.