There’s no shortage of DIY advice online about how to fell a tree, but here’s the truth: tree felling isn’t a weekend garden project. It’s dangerous and complex, especially in tight urban environments like Manchester’s gardens. Ideally, it’s not something to attempt unless you’re a qualified arborist. At Woodfelder Tree Care, we’ve seen firsthand what can go wrong when someone takes a chainsaw to a tree trunk without proper planning, equipment, or experience.
In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the key considerations and processes involved in felling trees, from choosing the right tools to planning your escape route, while showing why calling in professionals like us is always the safest, most cost-effective option.
See the important note at the bottom of each section which highlights what you should look for in your tree surgeons as they do their job.
👉 Learn more about our tree removal services or explore our full range of services here.
Key points
- Only use a professional tree surgeon, especially for large trees
- Ensure your arborist visits the site beforehand to evaluate your property and the tree
- Choose a reputable tree surgeon who has great reviews
- Tree felling is a complex process
- Not hiring a professional can be extremely dangerous
How to Fell a Tree: A Step-by-Step Guide
Here are the key steps of how to fell a tree. Your tree surgeon should take their time through the process to ensure safety and complete the job successfully
Step 1: Planning the Felling, Start With a Solid Plan
Tree felling always begins with a detailed assessment and plan. Before any work begins, a qualified tree surgeon should carry out a visual inspection to assess the tree’s condition, height, surrounding space, and overall health. Issues like dead branches, a rotting trunk, or signs of disease in the bark can affect the stability and increase the risk during the fall.
Visual Inspections also identify key environmental hazards, such as:
- Whether the trees are classified as large or small trees
- A safe and controlled direction of fall
- Any nearby obstacles, such as fences, roads, buildings, or cables overhead
- Unbalanced growth (like heavy branches on one side)
- Ground stability and room to work safely
- An appropriate escape route.
If a tree is dead, decaying, or growing in a tight space, expert knowledge is required to manage the risks. For complex jobs or trees in urban environments, additional planning and techniques will be needed. See our guide on felling in tight urban spaces.
✅ Always ensure your tree surgeon carries out a visual inspection before felling begins.Book a tree survey.
Step 2: Preparing the Right Tools and Safety Equipment
Professional tree surgeons rely on a wide range of cutting, rigging, and safety tools to carry out felling work effectively. Using substandard tools or inadequate protective gear puts both the operator and surroundings at serious risk.
Tree felling tools include:
- Chain saws or handsaws with sharpened blades
- Felling wedges and a mallet
- Modern chainsaws that meet PUWER regulations
- Ladders, cranes or cherry pickers for large or hazardous trees
Appropriate safety equipment includes:
- Integrated eye protection and hearing protection
- Cut-resistant gloves, trousers, and boots
- Hard hat and hi-vis clothing
- Harnesses and ropes for climbing where needed
- Professional-grade chainsaw protective trousers and boots
⚠️ Tree surgeons must wear appropriate safety equipment on every job, no matter the tree size.
Step 3: Choosing the Direction of Fall
The direction of fall is not simply the way a tree leans. It must be carefully assessed and planned based on the tree’s structure, its surroundings, and external conditions such as wind.
Factors influencing the direction of fall:
- The tree’s natural lean and shape
- Uneven or heavy branches on one side
- Prevailing wind direction on the day
- Proximity to buildings, fences, power lines, and roads
- Condition of the trunk and roots
Once the direction has been chosen, the surrounding ground must be cleared of all tools, logs, and debris. The fall zone should be kept clear, and all team members must be briefed on their escape routes and roles.
✅ Your tree surgeon should set up safe working zones and establish a clear escape route before any cuts are made.
Step 4: Making the Notch Cut and Felling Cut
The actual felling process involves a precise cutting technique, beginning with a notch cut (first cut) and followed by the felling cut (or back cut). These cuts must be exact to control the tree’s fall and prevent dangerous breakages.
The Notch Cut
The notch cut is made on the side of the trunk facing the intended direction of fall. It consists of:
- Top cut: Angled down at around 60-80 degrees, to about 20-25% of the tree’s diameter.
- Bottom cut: A horizontal cut meeting the top cut, removing a wedge-shaped section of wood
This notch guides the tree’s fall, creating a hinge point for the final cut.
The Felling Cut (Back Cut)
Made on the opposite side of the notch, this horizontal cut is slightly higher than the bottom cut of the notch. The aim is to leave a strip of uncut wood between the notch and the back cut (the hinge) to guide the tree’s fall direction and prevent snapping or uncontrolled movement.
If the tree does not begin to fall naturally, felling wedges are driven into the back cut to encourage the fall. These must be placed carefully using a mallet or axe.
⚠️ At this point, all team members should be clear of the area. Nobody should stand directly behind the tree.
Step 5: Bucking, Limbing, and Preparing Firewood
Once the tree is on the ground, it can be processed, a task that still requires attention to safety and technique.
Limbing Branches
Branches are removed starting from the base of the trunk and working toward the crown. Particular care must be taken with branches under tension, which can spring or trap the saw when cut. These branches can then be chipped for mulch.
Bucking
Bucking is the process of cutting the fallen trunk into manageable sections. The base should be stabilised to prevent movement before making horizontal cuts along the trunk.
Preparing Firewood
Timber can now be split for firewood, depending on the species and condition. Large pieces may require mechanical processing. Any remaining debris should be cleared, and the stump can be ground out if full tree removal is required.
🔧 We offerstump grinding and removal services to complete the process and sell hardwood logs for those in need of firewood.
What Can Go Wrong Without a Professional
Tree felling is one of the most dangerous types of work in arboriculture. Attempting to fell a tree without the correct knowledge, tools, or protective equipment can cause severe damage or injury. Here’s what can go wrong:
- Uncontrolled fall direction: leading to property damage, personal injury, or worse
- Chainsaw accidents: due to kickback, poor blade control, or incorrect cuts
- Injury from falling branches: especially from dead branches or those under tension
- Injuries from falls: If not properly trained or using no safety equipment, we’ve seen people fall from trees or the edge of buildings.
- Limb entrapment: if heavy wood moves unpredictably on the ground
- Incomplete felling cuts: which can cause the tree to split or twist
- Stability issues with dead or decaying trees: which are prone to breaking unexpectedly
⚠️ In the UK, professional tree surgeons are trained, insured, and fully equipped to manage these risks. You should always check their qualifications and public liability insurance before work begins.
If cost is a concern, read our guide on why tree surgery can seem expensive; it’s about far more than just cutting a tree. Or request a quotation for your tree removal cost.
The Safer Option: Hire a Professional Tree Surgeon
Tree felling is a high-risk operation that should only ever be carried out by qualified professionals. Whether it’s a single dead tree in a back garden or large-scale tree removals on a commercial site, the process demands planning, precision, and protective systems.
Make sure your chosen tree surgeon:
- Completes a full visual inspection
- Uses industry-standard equipment and safety precautions
- Has valid qualifications and insurance
- Offers clear advice and transparent pricing
- Can remove or process timber and grind the stump after felling
Need Tree Felling Support in Manchester, Stockport or Cheshire?
Get in touch with our team for trusted tree surgery services. Whether it’s tree removal, storm damage, pruning or planning permission advice, we’re here to help.
We’ll handle the planning, protect your home and garden, and leave your space safer, tidier, and tree-stump free.