Weekend work...need a little advice.

My mother lost a tree a few days ago. It was an ash that lost a large branch that I cleaned up last year. With the last round of (endless) storms the rest gave way.

I already cleared off some of the upper branches today before work so the neighbors wouldn't have to deal with it.

How would you guys approach cutting the rest?

 

Can you pull it down the rest of the way with a truck?

 

The break is about 5' above the ground.

No I cant get truck in there or id suffer the wrath of my mother

 

Although guaranteed to be tedious, could you cut it at the break with a pole saw while safely standing back from it?

 

I am the first to admit I am not the expert here.....and will be very interested in more experienced guys giving their opinion.

If it were me, I would have taken all the branches off and cut from the top of the tree back to lessen the pressure on the stress point at the trunk. Not sure if this is the best way or not.

 

That was my first idea too...that or a remote control explosive charge of course.

 

I'd clean off as many of the branches as you can taking into account the directional pressures they will be under. Then I would cut through that horizontal section up a little ways on it, between that "funny" spot and the first branches. Make a small undercut on it, then just cut right on through from the top. I'm assuming that your top cut is going to "open up" as you go deeper, but if you sense that its closing, and going to bind, pull that wedge out of your back pocket and wedge it. The top should just drop and the split part will probably just pop back a bit. You can then just "buck" up what's left pretty easily. Not an expert, just 40+ years of cutting wood.

 

"Just 40 years" - lol. Sounds like good advice.

 

I'd say Boog is right on. I'd work from the top and cut the branches off as much as you could first and see what happens. It may just stay suspended and you can buck it from the top back. Be careful is the main thing and watch the pressure as you cut.

 

How'd ya make out schlot?

 

Going to hit it after the sun comes up today. Hopefully the rain will hold off.

 

There is a big Maple over in the woods that looks the same as yours and will be watching your thread for some pointers

Good luck and be careful

 

Got some decent wood there when you're done too...

 

Boog's approach is pretty much what I was thinking too, but I've only cleaned up a few such trees and probably shouldn't be handing out advice on my own just yet. A couple of months ago I took apart a large wind-blown cherry with similar forces in play because of the weight of the root ball. The most dangerous parts were the branches on the underside supporting the weight of the trunk; the prospect of being crushed under the trunk seemed a lot less likely than that of getting my leg broken by the sudden snap of a big wooden spring. Your tree doesn't look too big so it may be less exciting than mine was, but anyhow I think it will go fine so long as you're thoughtful about the tensions on those sprung branches. In my case at least, the trunk was the easy part.

 

I was thinking of the remote controlled explosive charge as well.

 

You could trim back the top some more on one side, so that the trunk wants to roll one way or the other. Then make a standard wedge and back-cut on the vertical trunk and let it roll and snap off on the hinge. I haven't done a lot of 'em that way...be careful if you try it!