Felling a walnut tree - approval, procedure and more

Felling walnut trees - explained step by step

Felling walnut trees - is that allowed?

There is no general answer to this. The tree protection statutes are very different from region to region, they are sometimes even handled differently from municipality to municipality. In any case, it is often forbidden to fell a walnut without a permit.

also read

Refining the walnut tree - step by step
Pulling walnut tree - step-by-step instructions
Which location is optimal for the walnut tree?

Often there are specifications regarding the trunk circumference, the thickness of the branches and the age of the tree.

Example: Depending on the municipality, you do not need a permit for a tree with a trunk circumference of no more than 60 to 100 centimeters (deviations possible!).

We recommend that you contact the responsible office in your locality early on - and, if necessary, obtain approval. If this is necessary, it is crucial to have a valid reason for the felling (endangerment for you and / or third parties, death / illness of the tree, etc.).

How to fell a walnut tree

If you want, must and are allowed to fell a walnut tree, it is best to follow our instructions.

Preliminary remark: If possible, use a lifting platform (it is also available for rent). Often, however, it doesn't work because of the local conditions (insecure position, not enough space, etc.). Then you can't avoid removing your walnut tree piece by piece with a high ladder and good climbing technique (secured!).

Do not dare to do this difficult task, it is better to hire a specialist!

safety instructions

A normal garden ladder is not enough; walnut trees are usually much too tall for that. Never tie two ladders together! You need a tall, sturdy ladder.
Never work without a safety device! Good quality harnesses and ropes are essential. You may be able to borrow the accessories from a mountaineer, firefighter or, better yet, from a professional tree climber. Under no circumstances use 0815 hardware store ropes (the high load class only applies to the resting state, when the branches fall, however, the acceleration due to gravity and leverage are added, which increases the weight enormously).
Never use a two-handed chain saw while standing on the ladder. You only have two hands and one of them is reserved for the ladder (to hold onto).
Basically, you should urgently refrain from using a chainsaw if you have no experience with it. Then you better use a handsaw.
Stick to the relief cut when sawing the walnut tree. Walnut suddenly breaks and tears off pieces of bark from the trunk. The sawn-off branch may get caught on this. In addition, there is a risk of the chain saw blade being jammed if it is torn off.
Are there buildings under the branches of the walnut? Then you should again secure the former with ropes. Also attach a pull rope. This is how you specify the direction in which the branch falls.
Never wrap safety, holding or pulling ropes around your hands. Make sure that the ends of the rope are always loose and free. This is the only way to avoid tangling. Furthermore, you must not stand on the loose ends of the rope!

method

Saw from the bottom up.
Let stubs stand at regular intervals. These keep the ladder from suddenly sliding away and make it easier for you to climb.
After sawing off all the branches, it is the turn of the trunk. Cut this down piece by piece. If it is not too long, it may also be possible to saw it off completely. In this case, you should saw a notch with a tree circumference of 15 centimeters or more in order to specify the direction of fall (the notch must not exceed a third of the trunk diameter). The recommended angle between the horizontal and oblique cuts is approximately 45 degrees. Make sure that the felling cut is a good two to three centimeters above the bottom of the felling notch. Then continue sawing up to the hinge (distance between the felling notch and the felling cut) - this should be a tenth of the trunk diameter.
Ideally, carry out the fall of the trunk with a wedge.