A Snagged Cherry Tree- how to deal with it?

Among the many trees this past winter brought down was a large Red Maple.

R S Snagged Cherry 1

I’ve been clearing away the brush around it in preparation for sawing it up.

Its neighbor is a Cherry I have a history with.

R S Snagged Cherry 2

On Mothers Day 1995 it was my tree of choice to demonstrate to my young son how Tarzan of the Apes would use vines to swing through the forest. After rappelling up the trunk about five feet, the vine released and my body fell like a board, parallel to the ground. My tailbone contacted a root knee, resulting in a herniated disk and eventually a diskectomy. This bifurcated tree trunk had a long split caused by that same storm with one half of the tree leaning badly and ready to go before too long. My hope was that with a basic felling notch its mass would be enough to allow it to fall clear to the ground, although the small looking crown would have to pass through the branches of White Pines.

R S Snagged Cherry 3

R S Snagged Cherry 4

Well, I calculated poorly and the felling notch created a serious hazard. The crown is deeply entangled and I doubt I can pull it down. The butt end is sprung against the notch.

R S Snagged Cherry 5

We’re talking serious weight and compression. I’d appreciate suggestions from anyone with experience in a situation like this.

R S Snagged Cherry 6

5 comments to A Snagged Cherry Tree- how to deal with it?

  • Jason dain

    Basically what you need to do is make a series of cuts on the bottom side to relieve the pressure. Stand clear as it may snap that direction. Once it is severed and free you can pull it down.

  • tico

    Thanks for the solid suggestion. I have a chainsaw on a pole and can try those relief cuts at a safer distance than with my regular chainsaw.

  • Jason dain

    Treat it like a kerfing cut at the bottom of the flex point where the most pressure is. With each small cut ( not through) it will relieve pressure and once you have made several cuts it will be safe to make a through cut. The saw will want to pinch from the top if there is still weight on the bend so go easy.

  • tico

    Thanks, I’ll report back. I have used that technique several times in other situations where there wasn’t this level of sprung tension and difficulty to read where it might kick. I image that it could release and travel sideways a few feet very fast. I’ll definitely go easy.

  • tico

    Well, lucky me! The wind came up and made the Pines move around enough to loosen it and allow it to drop all the way. I measured it: 10″ diameter and 40′ long. It was worth waiting a day and jawing over things. Thanks!

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