DIY: Build a Ladder and Cut the Tree - Removing Large Trees Near Fences or Houses

Do you have very tall and large trees that are close to your fence or house? In such cases, cutting them down can be challenging because they may fall onto your property. This instructable provides an alternative method for cutting down these trees. It's different from how an arborist would do it, but it's something you can do yourself. I've done it myself.

When we bought our house, there were many trees in the backyard. Some of them were very tall and dying, which posed a danger if they fell onto the fence or house. Removing these large trees would also give us more usable space in the yard. We started asking for quotes for tree removal, but soon realized that cutting a tree of this size could cost over $3,000. That's a significant amount of money, so we began to wonder if it was possible to do it ourselves.

Disclaimer: I am a software engineer, I have never been an arborist but I spent several months studying how to climb and properly cut a tree. The method I‘m about to share is still very dangerous. If you have no experience with tree climbing or you have never used a chainsaw, please do not try it.

Just because this method works for me, doesn't mean it will work for you! In general, I wouldn't recommend this approach unless someone is confident and eager to give it a try.

After speaking with a few arborists, I’ve come to realize that my method is still very dangerous and carries significant risks. Please take full responsibility for your own safety.

By the way, I’ll link the resources I used, including the books I read, and tons of Youtube videos I watched.

Resources:

1. Books

2. Youtube videos (*.html file. Download first, then open with a browser)

1. Chainsaw
2. Safety Goggle
3. Arborist helmet
4. Earmuffs
5. Chainsaw pants
6. Flipline
7. Arborist carabiner
8. Arborist harness
9. Arborist rope
10. Impact driver
11. Impact socket
12. Tool belt
13. Twist drill bit
14. Large lag screw (e.g. 1/2 x 6 inch)
15. 2x4 lumber

The method is basically as follows:

You build a ladder as you climb up the tree, trim the branches as you ascend, and then cut the trees section by section from the top. This approach is very different from how professional arborists usually do as they would wear spike boots to climb up a tree, which is much faster. I have no plan of becoming an arborist, but I actually tried a pair of cheap spike shoes, I found it was very difficult for me to use, so I came up with the idea of building a ladder on the tree.

[Risks]:

Some risks for this method:

1. The rungs might fail due to factors such as: weak materials, rotting tree trunks, or insufficiently strong lag screws.
2. The branch or limb you cut could get stuck underneath, making it difficult to descend.
3. When the top section is cut, the release of tension can cause the tree to vibrate, increasing the risk of falling from the rungs.

Before starting, you have to know how to cut the tree from the ground, because the same technique will be used for cutting each section of the tree that I'll show you later.

To cut a tree from ground, you'll make a v-shaped notch on one side, which consists of an upper-cut and a lower-cut, and then the third cut from the opposite side will be the main cut.

The first step in preparing the ladder is to create the rungs.

Start by ripping the lumber to a size that can support your weight. You want it to be strong enough to hold you securely, but not so heavy that it becomes difficult to carry as you climb.

For this project, I used 2x4 lumber and ripped it in half.

Once you cut the lumber to the desired size, the next steps are:

• Pre-drill two holes on the rungs, with the size of each hole slightly less than the diameter of the lag screw that you choose.
• The distance between the two holes depends on the diameter of the tree. For example, for a tree of the size 18 inches in diameter, the distance between the two holes can be ~9 inches.

Start by attaching the first section of the ladder to the tree.

To secure each rung of the ladder:

1. Pre-drill a hole in the tree.
2. Insert a lag screw through one of the rung's holes and fasten it into the tree.
3. Pre-drill another hole on the opposite side of the rung.
4. Insert the second lag screw through the other hole and secure it to the tree

Use a flip line to secure yourself to the tree before stepping onto the first rung of the ladder.

To secure yourself:

1. Attach one end of the flip line to your harness.
2. Swing the other end around the tree.
3. Clip the other end of the flip line to the carabiner on your harness.

Once both ends are secured, adjust the flip line's length so that it's snug. It should be secure enough to support your weight on the tree.

Watch this section of the video to see this step in action:

Once you've climbed up one level, trim the branches to make it easier to move up to the next rung of the ladder.

As mentioned earlier, the process is to install the ladder rungs, trim the branches, and then continue climbing.

In my toolbelt, I have the following items:

1. Pre-cut and pre-drilled lumber
2. Lag screws
3. A drill
4. A driver

This gear is quite heavy, so you need to make sure the lumber is sturdy. In other words, the pre-cut lumber must be able to support not just your weight but also all of this equipment.

Watch this section of the video to see this step in action:

Continue repeating the process as you ascend.

As you climb higher, the tree's diameter will decrease.

After installing each rung, swing the flip line upward, then step up to the next level.

The steps to repeat are:

1. Install a rung
2. Trim the branches
3. Ascend

Keep repeating these steps until you reach a point where you can no longer install a rung on the tree.

Watch this section of the video to see this step in action:

Climb until you reach a point where the tree can no longer support the ladder. This is where you'll begin cutting the first section.

Before cutting, tie a rope around the top section of the tree. Have someone on the ground pull the rope to ensure the top section falls in the right direction, away from you.

Use the V-notch method from step 2 to cut the first section of the tree.

Now, imagine you're near the top of the tree, where the diameter has become too thin to support the ladder. This is where you'll make the first cut. At this point:

1. Install multiple rungs at different orientations to give yourself more freedom when cutting the V-notch.
2. Tie a rope around the upper section above you, and have someone pull the top section in the desired direction.
3. Use the chainsaw to make the V-notch. Since you've installed multiple rungs, you can move to the opposite side to make the final cut while your helper pulls the rope to guide the fall.

Once the top section is down, you can descend and repeat the process.

Watch this section of the video to see this step in action:

Repeat the process in Step 10 until you reach the ground.

Let me show you some pictures of the tree felling in action.

Be sure to watch this part of the video to see it all in action!

Congratulations! You've successfully cut down a huge tree. It's incredibly satisfying to complete a project like this. However, I want to remind you that this task is very dangerous. Please don't attempt it unless you're fully confident in your abilities. Thanks for following along!