Thread: Any advice for a novice tree lopper?

Hello Team

Over the last month, it seems, a large eucalypt in our back garden has apparently become very sick, and perhaps even died. I'll have that confirmed by a pro as this is part of the Council consent to have it removed.

What sort of price range can I expect for the tree to be professionally removed, or at least felled and remains left in situ? It's on a level block but behind my workshop (a free standing brick garage). Small vehicles (ie up to 2ton trucks) can get into the back garden. Northern Sydney location.

Before anyone says anything - I am not going near it myself

Cheers

Tim

300 or more I am htinking.

hey there,
We got a quote today, for 2 x Silky oaks , 2x palms and 5x Casurinas. Big huge beasts, splitting the fences, digging up the bricks and clogging up the gutters....

He reckons he can buy a chain saw, borrow a ladder and do it all himself.

He served with the SES, 25 + yrs ago, but thinks he can still "do it".

I say...."I'm not going to be here, check the life insurance and book the kids and dogs into day care"

Please offer suggestions and/or comments.
Regards, P.

If he going to use a ladder, he is already going about it the wrong way

Originally Posted by Barry Hicks

Spencer, the only advice I can offer if you decide to DIY - make sure you sit on the correct side of a saw cut!

Silly as it may sound, I knew a priest in a little Western Qld town who decided to lop some trees in his church yard and fell out of the tree he was working on along with the branch he had just cut through. And yes, he sat on the wrong side of the cut.

Someone up there must have been looking after him as he only broke a collar bone.

Barry Hicks

If there really was someone 'up there' looking after him then he wouldnt have fallen in the first place.

Even being on the right side of the cut doesnt help you. I had my extra long ladder up against a near horizontal branch the other week and cutting about 3 feet of it off when it let go all fine - BUT - the sudden difference in weight as the branch went into freefall caused the remaining branch to spring UP, about a foot, leaving my ladder grabbing air, and me grabbing the branch.
I was left dangling from the branch like a stuck cat. Would have made a greta video - $10000 winner !!

Originally Posted by oldjonesy

If there really was someone 'up there' looking after him then he wouldnt have fallen in the first place.

Even being on the right side of the cut doesnt help you. I had my extra long ladder up against a near horizontal branch the other week and cutting about 3 feet of it off when it let go all fine - BUT - the sudden difference in weight as the branch went into freefall caused the remaining branch to spring UP, about a foot, leaving my ladder grabbing air, and me grabbing the branch.
I was left dangling from the branch like a stuck cat. Would have made a greta video - $10000 winner !!

I wonder why members here voted 10 to 0 to get a pro to do it????????
instead of DIY

Rule 1 - Never touch a standing tree when it is in range of anything that could be damaged.

Rule 2. - See rule 1.

Originally Posted by DavidG

Rule 1 - Never touch a standing tree when it is in range of anything that could be damaged.

Rule 2. - See rule 1.

Na, have to disagree with that one

Before:
Attachment 72518

After:
Attachment 72517

No damage to any structure (ie: my house) power line for next door remained in tact.
It depends on the tree and if you know what you are doing..

Originally Posted by Terrian

Na, have to disagree with that one

No damage to any structure (ie: my house) power line for next door remained in tact.
It depends on the tree and if you know what you are doing..

I would have thought if YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WERE DOING you would not be classed as a DIY and asking on this forum how to do it. And mentioning ladders in the same post.

Originally Posted by Terrian

Na, have to disagree with that one

It depends on the tree and if you know what you are doing..

My rule is a general one for people who ask what to do, not for experts.

I have removed trees next to structures as well but it is not something I like to do.

Much nicer to have a paddock around the tree.

Originally Posted by Calm

I would have thought if YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WERE DOING you would not be classed as a DIY and asking on this forum how to do it. And mentioning ladders in the same post.

knowing how to do a job does not mean you are not a DIY person...and there is nothing wrong with using a ladder to assist in dropping a tree, depends on the tree, seems many here are assuming that to take down a tree you need to cut through the trunk and drop the thing in one piece... that is rarely the case

Originally Posted by DavidG

My rule is a general one for people who ask what to do, not for experts.

my FIL & myself are not experts at tree dropping, cutting this one down without doing damage did not involve any measure of luck...

I have removed trees next to structures as well but it is not something I like to do.

Again, depends on the tree
the pics I posted show the before and after, but we did not drop it in one piece...

Much nicer to have a paddock around the tree.

not going to dispute that