Felling trees safely is one of the most dangerous jobs homeowners can undertake. For professionals too.
It happens all the time. Trees that seem harmless enough standing in the garden… Until someone pulls out a chainsaw. Suddenly they’re dangerously overbalanced. They’ve got a huge dead branch on the wrong side. Or the lean just becomes visible when you chop through the foliage on top.
It only takes…
A nicked chain.
A startled squirrel.
A gust of wind.
And your tree-felling project turns from “simple” to serious safety incident in seconds.
What You’ll Learn
- What Exactly Is Tree Felling?
- When Does A Tree Need To Come Down?
- Why DIY Tree Felling Is Risky
- How Professional Tree Felling Should Go
- The Personal Protection Needed For Tree Felling
- Legal Things To Note Around Tree Felling
What Exactly Is Tree Felling?
Put simply, tree felling is the controlled process of cutting down a tree.
“Controlled” is key here. It’s cutting down a tree skillfully and safely, with minimal risk to the operatives doing the work — and anyone and property nearby.
Obviously, it sounds easier than it is. Real skill is needed, along with specialised equipment and knowledge of tree dynamics.
Which is why the safest solution for most homeowners is usually to hire a qualified tree surgeon. They know what they’re looking for and how to spot the signs of potential danger before it becomes an issue. They can take care of the tree felling itself without putting themselves or your family at risk.
When Does A Tree Need To Come Down?
First things first — professional tree felling isn’t always necessary.
If your tree is healthy, balanced and safely away from buildings then it’s fine where it is.
But if any of the following apply…
- The tree is dead or diseased
- It’s been damaged by recent storms
- It’s growing over buildings or structures
- It’s damaged nearby fences, drains or boundaries
…Then it’s time to consider professional tree felling.
Trees like this can pose a serious risk to life and property. The longer you leave it, the worse that risk becomes. Dead trees are particularly tricky, since they don’t decay evenly. That ‘safe-looking’ tree could split without warning…
Why DIY Tree Felling Is Risky
Hold up. Time for a serious talk about safety.
DIY tree felling — getting someone in from trade portals or just having ‘grandad round’ — is dangerous.
VERY dangerous.
Sky-high dangerous. Higher than lots of trades, in fact. Official stats from the HSE confirm that tree work has a major injury incidence rate which is higher than the construction industry overall.
Yeesh.
Between 2000 and 2013 there were 60 fatalities associated with tree work activities in the UK. Over 4,000 injuries that drastically changed people’s lives.
Most of which involved chainsaw use, being struck by wood, or falls from height.
The biggest issue? A large portion of those accidents were entirely preventable.
People took risks. They became overconfident. Trees that appeared stable ended up falling in unpredictable ways because someone decided not to plan the felling direction properly, or worse — just guessed.
Don’t be that person.
If the tree felling job doesn’t seem safe from the outset, hire a professional. It’s honestly the best way to keep risk as low as possible.
How Professional Tree Felling Should Go
Wondering what the difference is between DIY tree felling and getting a pro involved? It should look like this…
1. A Thorough Site Assessment
This is the tree surgeon inspecting the tree itself and planning the fall. They need to check:
- Size, lean, potential hazards contained within the tree
- Surrounding structures that need protecting
- Proposed direction of fall, based on the weight distribution in the tree
- Clear routes of retreat from the felling area
2. Clearing a Safety Zone Around The Tree
The area around the tree is marked as off-limits to other people. It’ll be dangerous until the tree has been safely cut down and cleared.
3. Making The Directional Cut
The ‘notch cut’ is started on the side of the tree that it needs to fall to. This cut needs to be angled correctly and finished with precision — get this wrong and you’re in trouble.
4. Making The Back Cut
Cutting from the opposite side releases the tree, allowing it to fall in the direction specified by the notch cut. Too much wood left connecting the trunk to the stump = bad.
5. Clearing The Tree After It’s Fallen
Once on the ground the tree is then sectioned and cleared away, leaving the area safe.
Easy. When a pro does it. A nightmare otherwise.
The Personal Protection Needed For Tree Felling
Tree surgeons have safety training videos too. Only instead of ‘never touch a hot mug of coffee’ they’re watching things like ‘serious injuries from falling trees.’
There’s a reason arborists wear thicker gloves than standard kitchen rubber ones.
When chopping through wood as thick as a human’s thigh — with a chainsaw — proper protection is essential.
Personal protection is non-negotiable for ANYONE near a tree being felled. Wear the wrong thing and tree surgery risks skyrocket.
- Chainsaw protection trousers — Yes, they sound as silly as they look. But they’ve been treated with special materials to stop chainsaws on contact. Literally.
- Safety helmet with visor and earmuffs — Watching trees fall never gets old, but ears, hair and eyes won’t like it.
- Steel toe-cap boots — Because falling bits of tree trunk landing on feet sounds like fun… Right?
- Cut-resistant gloves — Ideal for handling during the clearance process.
- High-visibility jacket — Particularly important if felling near a roadway or public right-of-way.
The point is, tree felling without the correct PPE isn’t safe. Don’t even think about skipping any of it.
Legal Things To Note Around Tree Felling
More reasons NOT to DIY tree surgery.
There are laws around tree felling in the UK. Ignoring them won’t make the consequences go away.
Under the Forestry Act 1967 it’s actually illegal to cut down certain trees without applying for a felling licence first. That applies even if the tree is only on your property.
Add into that Tree Preservation Orders and the potential for a tree to be covered by one — TPOs are more common than people realise.
TPOs are issued on specific trees to prevent them from being cut down — you’ll need to apply to the local council for permission, otherwise significant fines are likely.
If still not sure…
- Check the tree doesn’t have a TPO on it
- Check the property isn’t inside a conservation area
- Apply for a felling licence if needed
A local planning department or tree surgeon should be able to confirm any of the above quickly. Save a potential fine by asking.
And We’re Done!
Trees are tough, complicated… And expensive to get removed. Leave that stressed-out tree near the house leaning like that and you’ll be asking yourself why a professional wasn’t called sooner.
Just remember:
- Assess whether the tree needs felling or not
- Ensure felling the tree is legally permitted
- Wear protective equipment at all times
- Set and guard a clear safety zone
- Call in the professionals if it all seems too much
No shame in getting some help. Safely dropping a large tree to the ground is worth taking seriously!