BUFFALO TREE SERVICE BLOG

Our favorite tree care freebie is making a homemade felling wedge.

We started wedge-making by coincidence. We were cutting pulpwood in a massive stand of fir where the neighboring trees created repeated hang-ups. We needed more lift to force the trees we were cutting onto the ground but was out of wedges. We attempted to cut a wedge out of a stump from a fir tree, but the wood just compressed as we pounded it home.

Wanting a better solution, one of the tree contractors went to the bed of our truck and found a broken, old ax handle. He trimmed the handle around eight inches up from the doe’s foot and formed it with a hatchet and knife to get a sleek, double-tapered wedge. The handle-wedge worked fine giving plenty of lift to lure the tree downward. Though somewhat less sturdy than aluminum or plastic wedges, the wooden ones work well and can be left in the woods once their usefulness is over.

If you find yourself in the forest short on wedges and there’s no ax handles around, think about slashing a wedge out of a little hardwood pole or limb.

You should look for oak, elm, or maple around four inches in diameter. With your chainsaw, start by cutting two smooth sides and then create two diagonal cuts for the center wedge. This will produce three wedges that will be plenty to get your tree to the ground.

Good Sources for Homemade Felling Wedges
Another good source of wedge material that you don’t have to buy is old oak pallet skids. You make these sorts of wedges in the wintertime. We keep a couple in our toolboxes. Cut an assortment of thicknesses and lengths to fulfill various felling conditions.

Wedges can aid in controlling the direction of trees falling even if they are leaning the incorrect way.
Many people think you use a wedge when felling trees. Not only do we use wedges for that, but we use them as well on trees with a lop-sided crown, when felling against the wind, or when it is hard to see which way the tree wants to fall. 

In those cases, wedges offer more control over the direction and timing of the fall.  If you find that felling trees with homemade wedges to be beyond what you fell like you are capable of, contact Buffalo Tree, we can provide tree cutting professionals to handle any tree you need brought down.
 

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Splitting wood is a rural pastime rooted in experience and tradition. The experience is typically measured in cracked ax handles and cursing aimed at chunks of cordwood.

While the arguments over favored firewood types, splitting methods (over-the-shoulder or in-line), and tools are expected to continue, there appears to be an agreement that is trying to find a good splitting block is time well spent. Read on to learn about using the right splitting block to cut up fallen trees.

Why a splitting block? While some people like to split firewood right on the ground, putting a splitting block under your piece of wood offers many benefits, the main one being safety. Splitting on a raised block means that the last resting place of the ax is nowhere near your feet.

Splitting with a block also lessens the chances of hitting rocks, maintaining the bit of your ax by guaranteeing that it only contacts the wood. There’s plenty of splitting power. If you attempt to split wood on the soft ground, you’ll discover that the earth absorbs much of the energy from your swing. Finally, a good splitting block means fewer backaches and more firewood.

Block Selection: The most difficult hunks of firewood make better, long-lasting splitting blocks. The coiled grain of elm makes a split-resistant block that’s hard to beat. If a block of elm isn’t around, get a knotty block or a wide stump of some other types. Ask a Buffalo tree service professional for different firewood types to use for a splitting block.

The height of the block must be 12-16 inches. For diameter, your block must be many inches wider than the wood you’re splitting for both safety and stability.

Surface Angle: Do yourself a favor and put up two splitting blocks, one with a flawlessly flat top and the other one with the top cut at an angle of 10-15 degrees. Sooner or later, you’ll get a piece of wood with an angled base that won’t stand on the flat block. By fitting the angle of your wood with the angle of the block, you can make even the most uneven pieces stand straight.

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Find Where it Leans
Most plants slightly lean to one side, even it appears straight up and down. By locating which direction it leans most towards, you can predict that it will fall that way.

Start off by clearing the area around where you will make your first cut. The fewer branches and leaves blocking your path, the better.

Once this area is cleared away, you’ll want to make your cut at a 70-degree angle safely. Make sure you are cutting with your left shoulder against the tree for proper support.

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Make an Even Cut
The first cut is to remove structural support from the center of the tree. You can think of it as removing the support beam from a house; it’ll cause everything above it to collapse!

The second cut, however, is what will bring the tree down. By evenly slicing horizontally from the opposite side until it connects to the first section, it will quickly force the tree to fall over from its own weight.

However, it’s crucial that you make as even of a cut as possible. Creating a wave-like pattern could make it fall in an unexpected direction!
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Your trees are a true part of your property. You want to keep them vibrant and healthy. Sometimes, this is out of your control.
 
If you have a tree that seems like it should be removed, you need to call a Buffalo tree removal professional. There are instances in which a tree must be removed for safety reasons or simply just because it’s at the end of its life. 
 
A Buffalo tree service team will come to your property to examine your trees and their surroundings. We can then decide the best method for starting the removal process. It might necessitate an arborist to climb your tree or use a bucket truck. Any of this should be left to the experts. Sometimes residents are unsure if a professional Buffalo tree service company can help because they have a large, oversize tree that needs to be removed.
 
Most Buffalo tree removal experts have removed both large and small trees. Therefore, you should call a professional regardless of what size the tree is.
 
A company that focuses on tree removal in Buffalo knows that at times, it can be difficult to remove a tree. Nonetheless, if it’s a safety hazard, it must be done. You can count on knowledgeable tree removal professionals to safely and carefully remove your tree and clean up any debris left behind when the job is completed.

​Advantages of Using a Buffalo Tree Removal Service
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• Professionals will carefully remove your trees
• Clean up of any debris left behind after tree removal service
• You can have the removed tree made into mulch upon request
• Tee removal contractors are properly trained and years of experience

 
Tree care pros will help rid you of the tree, regardless of your reason for tree removal. Experienced and trained specialists are committed to protection and safety. Once the work is done in a timely fashion, we'll remove any unwanted debris.
 
Stump Grinding
A tree care business will aid you in removing the unwanted stump from your yard. Once the tree is removed, the area is ready for a new tree or some landscaping.
 
Timely Service
When working with professional tree services, the completion of your tree removal project will be done in a timely fashion. Once done, a work review will be performed so that you are up-to-date and will know how to handle any possible problems shortly.
 
Reasons to Consider Professional Tree Removal in Buffalo
 
Trees are an enchanting and healthy addition to the environment. It’s sad when one has to be cut down. There are times a tree is just in the way and should be removed. Other times, a tree is dying or diseased. It could bring more problems if left on its own.
 
But before you get out your chainsaw and begin trying to cut the tree down by yourself, contact a professional tree remover in Buffalo. Tell them what’s going on with your tree. Let them create a plan of action. 

Why Consult a Professional Buffalo Tree Remover?

• Your Tree May Not Need to be Removed
• Tree Removal Can Get Ugly
• Less Work for You
• Decline of Damage
• Safety First

 
It might also be that your tree doesn’t have to be removed. It would be a shame to cut a tree in your yard that only requires proper trimming. An expert can give you an answer and save you money and time.
 
Whether you decide to use a tree removal contractor or not, it’s a good idea to speak with an individual who has done this type of work before many times. Inquire about the service and make sure you are getting rid of the appropriate tree for the appropriate reasons before you begin cutting.