Eucalyptus Tree - cutting it down

freeman3030

Hi,
I've got a eucalyptus tree in the bottom left of my garden which is like cutting down. It's taller than my house is guess around 20m tall.
I know trees can be expensive to cut down and after all I'm here to save money - I'm sure it won't cost as much if I clear the tree myself, I've got an open fire, can I burn the trunk/branches of a eucalyptus tree?
Also, am I allowed to just have a tree cut down or do I have to get permission from the council?

Money_saving_maniac

Cutting a tree that tall down isn't as easy as it sounds. Where are the branches going to fall?
You don't need permission unless it has a tree preservation order on it, the council can put these on trees.
Employing a tree surgeon isn't as expensive as you think it's going to be and they will clear the site afterwards, plus if the falling branches cause any damage to anyone else's property they will be liable on their insurance.

glasgowdan

Is there anything in the way if it falls?

warwicktiger

Unless you are experienced (I am) I would really avoid trying to do it yourself. Will you start at the top and drop branches individually? Do you have any idea how much tree branches weigh? Do you have safety harnesses? Do you know how to use a chainsaw? safely? up a tree? Or do you just think you can cut it down in one go and shout "timber" as it smashes into your or a neighbours house/garage/shed? Are you insured?

cyclonebri1

Are you sure it's 20 mtrs?, I have several trees in mine that are around 10mtr and they are big. That said once a eucalyptus gets away it does grow big. What dia is the trunk?

Unless I had a free fall the height of the tree in all directions, (I doubt you have if it's "bottom left"), I'd not attempt to fell it myself.

The 10mtr plus conifer I have, which towers way over the houses to my rear, was quoted at £200 to fell and take away, if you get a similar quote Id try to save money in a slightly less risky or darn right dangerous way;);)

MX5huggy

A 2 story house is approximately 5m tall ground to guttering so I doubt your tree is 4 times taller than your house.

As your asking you need professionals in, Felling trees is very dangerous the saw wants to kill you and the tree wants to kill you.

They will fell it safely without killing anyone or damaging property look on YouTube for tree felling fails.

You can keep all the wood and burn it no problem if you don't own a chainsaw I would get them to cut the logs to the length that will fit in your fire then all you need to do is split them with an axe they need to be stored and dried you looking at it being dry for winter 2017/18 now. The amount of leaves and small branches from a tree cannot be underestimated. Get this chipped anything smaller than 4 to 6 inches in diameter. You may save a bit if you offer to keep the chip (use it as a mulch on your boarders).

Look on the ARBTALK site for recommendations of qualified professionals in your area.

Browntoa

I paid £400 to have one chopped down and removed , took an experienced Tree surgeon a couple of hours chopping it down from the top using a chainsaw


not a job I would attempt myself

agentk

Fantastic stuff for the fire. but split it green as its like concrete when seasoned.

Mojisola

freeman3030 wrote: »

I've got an open fire, can I burn the trunk/branches of a eucalyptus tree?

Are you in a smokeless zone?

If you are allowed to burn wood, you will have to keep the eucalyptus for a long time to season it - two years would be best.

Unless it's given long enough to dry out, it will leave deposits in the flue which increases the risk of chimney fires.

27col

If you are in any doubt about the skill required to safely fell a tree. Have look on YouTube., both for the correct way to do it and the wrong way to do it. Some of the videos would have made my hair curl (If I had any hair)

phil24_7

Me and my dad cut down a 10 odd evergreen from my garden. I climbed 2/3rds of the way up and trimmed all the branches around me. Made sure I had a clear escape (jump onto some soft stuff!) route and a clear drop (chainsaw) route. I tied a rope near the top and started to cut a 'v' in the back edge with my dad gently pulling the tree down the garden. The 'v' went just over 1/3 of the way through and then I cut about 2/3 of the way through before we both pulled on the rope to bring the top down.

This process was repeated for the next section and again for the final section. It took a long time to log it all and I still have over 1m3 of it left after 4 or 5 years.

It is doable but plan thoroughly, wear the correct safety gear (chainsaw rated boots, gloves helmet/mask, overalls) and be slow and methodical.

If I hadn't had access to a decent chainsaw and safety gear I would have paid someone to do it for me, as by the time your hire all this in, it doesn't work out financially!