Tree Felling

Safety and Protective Equipment

At United Tree Services, we understand the paramount importance of safety gear in tree felling within Buncombe County, including Asheville, and Henderson County, encompassing Hendersonville. Our professionals are equipped with helmets, Kevlar chaps to protect against chainsaw accidents, and additional safety equipment that complies with the latest standards. We use personal protective equipment (PPE) to shield ourselves from potential hazards such as flying debris and falls. The PPE includes, but is not limited to, heavy-duty gloves, protective goggles, and hearing protection. Our emphasis on safety gear reflects our commitment to both our team’s wellbeing and the assurance of a hazard-free site post-felling.

Planning and Assessing the Environment

Efficient planning ahead is vital in our tree felling operations throughout Buncombe County NC and Henderson County NC. In our plan, we consider multiple environmental factors that could affect the felling, such as wind direction, slope, and nearby obstacles. We meticulously survey the tree for signs of decay or damage that may complicate the process. Our approach includes deciding the felling direction, understanding the tree’s structure and lean, and proactively identifying escape routes. We consult with local government regulations to ensure compliance. Our professionals are trained to assess the environment thoroughly to predict and mitigate risks, guaranteeing that the felling strategy is tailored to each unique situation. By taking these steps, United Tree Services ensures that every tree removal is executed with precision and care.

The Felling Process

Tree felling is a methodical process requiring precision and planning to ensure safety and accuracy. We at United Tree Services prioritize these steps in the regions of Buncombe County, including Asheville, and Henderson County, with coverage extending to Hendersonville and surrounding areas.

Making the Cuts

We initiate tree felling with a precise horizontal cut on the front side of the tree. This cut, made at about waist height, is the first part of our technique ensuring control over the direction the tree falls. Our experts carefully calculate the depth to correspond with the size of the tree for optimal results. Following this, a 70-degree angle cut is made to meet the horizontal cut, creating a notch. This notch guides the tree’s fall in the desired direction, factoring in its weight and wind direction.

Creating the Felling Hinge and Notches

Once the initial notch is made, we proceed to create the felling hinge, which is a small section of uncut wood that dictates the tree’s path as it falls. The hinge must be parallel to the initial cut and calculated to sustain control as the tree descends. Making the corresponding notch on the back side of the tree is critical, ensuring it is slightly higher than the horizontal front cut and aligned correctly to guide the tree safely towards the ground.

Determining the Direction and Escape Routes

In planning the felling process, our team at United Tree Services thoroughly assesses the tree’s natural lean, weight distribution, and the prevailing wind direction to determine the safest and most efficient fall direction. We also establish clear escape routes at a 45-degree angle from the back of the tree, ensuring our team can retreat safely. Before making any cuts, our expert team clears the area around the tree, within Buncombe and Henderson counties, providing ample space for the tree’s descent and our team’s egress.

Advanced Felling Techniques

In the practice of advanced tree felling, we employ precision, safety, and a thorough understanding of tree mechanics, especially when dealing with challenging conditions. At United Tree Services, we have honed these techniques to ensure the successful felling of trees across Buncombe and Henderson Counties, including the Asheville and Hendersonville regions.

Dealing with Complex Situations

When felling a tree that is leaning, weighted irregularly, or positioned in a way that makes it unpredictable, we take extra precautions. For leaning trees, careful assessment and the use of felling wedges or a winch may be required to counteract the lean and ensure controlled descent. The choice between a felling wedge and a winch depends on the tree’s size, lean, and the surrounding area.

In areas where wind might affect the direction of the tree’s fall, we analyze the prevailing wind patterns and incorporate this into our planning. It is crucial to account for the wind to prevent the tree from falling in an unintended direction, which could pose risks to property or people.

Chainsaws are our primary tool and require skilled handling, particularly when executing complex cuts. We use advanced cutting techniques, such as the key notch technique, to manipulate the felling direction. This method, also known as the tongue and groove technique, allows for greater control in challenging situations.

For residents and business owners throughout Buncombe County NC, including all areas of Asheville, and in Henderson County NC, encompassing Hendersonville and surrounding places, United Tree Services offers these specialized advanced felling services. Our team brings confidence, knowledge, and clear communication to every job, ensuring trees are felled safely and efficiently.

Post-Felling Operations

Once the main task of felling the tree is completed, we at United Tree Services focus on post-felling operations. Our expertise extends to handling the aftermath work, ensuring that all areas within Buncombe County, including Asheville and its surrounds, as well as Henderson County, featuring Hendersonville and neighboring areas, are clear and safe, adhering to the highest standards of tree service.

Tree Limbing and Sectioning

The process of tree limbing involves the removal of branches from the fallen tree, which is a critical step before sectioning the tree into manageable parts. We approach this with precision to avoid damage to the tree’s surroundings. Our team employs techniques like the bore cut to strategically detach limbs while preserving safety and control. In both Buncombe and Henderson counties, our clients trust us to execute these tasks efficiently, with an aim to minimize the potential hindrance to the fall path and ensure a clear escape path for our operators.

Our approach to sectioning is to divide the trunk and larger branches into sections that can be easily removed or repurposed. United Tree Services emphasizes a clear strategy for cutting, considering both the end-use of the wood and the need to keep the work area cleared out. In dealing with larger trees that may affect multiple properties in Asheville or Hendersonville, we plan our sectioning to expedite the process and avoid disruption.

Cleanup and Disposal

Cleanup is an integral part of our work at United Tree Services, and we take it seriously. We meticulously collect sticks, debris, and the remnants of tree removal to leave the site as clean as or cleaner than we found it. Our cleanup efforts include the careful disposal of all materials in accordance with local regulations in both Buncombe and Henderson counties. We take pride in our ability to manage felling wedges, sawdust, and other materials efficiently, ensuring they do not pose any safety or environmental hazards.

Disposal varies depending on the size and type of the tree, as well as the client’s preferences and local bylaws. We can facilitate the responsible recycling of wood for lumber or chips or the appropriate disposal if recycling is not an option. Throughout Asheville, Hendersonville, and all the areas we serve, our clients can rely on us to complete tree felling operations from start to finish with the utmost professionalism and respect for the property and local environment.