I'm looking for some solid advice on removing dead ash trees from my property without spending a ton of money. I bought a piece of land that has around 30-60 tall ash trees, some 40-50 ft high. Unfortunately, I found out they're all dead and need to be taken down soon. I've tried contacting contractors, but the quotes are through the roof, costing more than what I paid for the lot! I'm not able to hire anyone, so I've decided to gather some friends and tackle this job ourselves. We have a chainsaw and a truck available, but we've never done anything like this before. I'm worried about safety, especially since I don't want them to fall onto nearby houses. I'd appreciate any tips on how to get started and manage this removal process safely. Thanks!
1 Answer
Removing dead ash trees can be risky since they're brittle. Make sure everyone has safety gear and work as a team. It's best to cut them in sections rather than trying to take down a whole tree at once. Consider using a winch or ropes to guide the trees as they fall, which will help avoid accidents. Each tree’s direction of fall should be well-planned since you have houses nearby.
That’s a good point! We thought about a pole saw but those don’t reach the top. Could it be safer to take off lower branches first, instead of going for the whole height?