The Tree That Terrified Me: My Struggle in Felling it

A huge wild cherry tree blew over on one of the pastures. It is leaning dangerously and I want to take it down safely. Even though I have a lot of experience with trees and chainsaws, this one is scary to me...
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[@judthemagicdragon]

Hey Simeon, I think the quality of your camera work and editing is really improving .. Your videos are becoming really beautiful, and captivating as well as informative and interesting ... brilliant job :)

[@bigricky63]

To bad

[@dirtyshirtinfo]

Nice! That was definitely a puzzle to be solved. You pointed out there were no time constraints, I thought that was key. Every major cut you made had to be studied, executed, then re-examined. Excellent work.

[@HomesteadingwiththeHeberts]

Great job on that tree, as a former tree guy myself, that was a tough tree to remove from the ground safely. Glad to see you did it and did not get hurt.

[@brianjonker510]

So satisfying to chainsaw up a mess like that and bring back tidiness and order at the end of the day.

[@starrmcurry2718]

Wow, that was a huge tree! Great job with the chain saw, music and drone!!!

[@northwest8634]

Poor old tree, didn't want to give up. Nice to see, how carefully you took it down.

[@888HUSKERS]

Great work, I needed to see this. Where I'm helping chainsaw and cleanup we have lots of large and small dead trees leftover from a fire that destroyed a lot of the property. I would have never have thought about the dangers your video made so obvious, thank you.

[@davidesaviane2249]

really liked! an a particular thanks on the attention and thinking you given! for all who watch your videos!!!

[@TrojanHorse1959]

Very good! Common sense and experience, you have them!

[@waynegilchrist1596]

Good job! You seem to have worked as safe as could be expected and you showed patience and it paid off. Great video, very interesting.

[@moniquemelanson1114]

That was one narly tree. Only one small suggestion: with all that shiny new gear you should of rolled around in the dirt before starting to video ;). You look fresh off the shelf. Hopefully this means husqvarna is sponsoring you a bit. Great video.

[@dennisst.germaine3497]

LOL!

[@harristweed5937]

Give the new guy a break. This is amateur hour.

[@moniquemelanson1114]

You are wrong. This is not amateur hour. He is a better operator than many who do this for a living. I was only kidding him about his new PPE.

[@harristweed5937]

He's a cull in my neck of the woods Miss.

[@Theorimlig]

Biggest cherry tree I've ever seen in Sweden. They don't usually get all that thick. Good job on taking it down carefully.

[@LarsOliverMuff]

Nice outfit there! And good job on the "ScaryCherry."

[@maryannanderson7517]

I enjoyed watching that. Thanks for posting.

[@lifeatufsvasskjerra3462]

Nicely done! I like your attitude of taking it with ease, step by step. I learn something for every one of your videos.

[@pattylugo5163]

Amazing on all the things you do in your homestead.Very hard working man .Blessing to you.

[@onebadboy2]

Excellent job Simeon. You are making really great videos nowadays. The drone work was excellent. Be proud and have a wonderful week, my brother!!

[@wgoconnor33]

Good job I was very impressed by your attitude of safety first

[@zachmeyer2718]

William O'Connor don’t forget that he has an unsheathed hatched dangling from his waist though

[@EYALAVRAHAMI]

you came such a long way in video filming and editing since the first time i've watched you. it's real pleasure to watch. i'm learning alot. keep on the great work!!

[@jacquespapillon1154]

Hello Simeon, no more snow over there you're lucky, here in my region in Quebec over 2 feet of snow, so have a nice day and take care friends. Bye

[@sunflowersnbluebirds7362]

This was really nerve wracking for me to watch. Thanks for being uber safe!!! Love your channel.

[@mramanya]

Use some of that cherry to make the bread board and knives. Those would be awesome!!

[@shongo2k15]

Mr Andy Oooh that's a wonderful idea!

[@donaldmiller8629]

The door swings open and it's ........SPACE MAN ! Save some of those smaller cherry wood branches . They would be excellent for smoking meats. Hmmm, cherry wood . I'm thinking of some finer wood working projects .

[@CirrusSR20Pilot]

Beautiful camera angles. Love the use of the drone. Very professionally done!

[@mikekomis2055]

Thanks for the video... I learned something here today!

[@SirMonkknight]

That cherry tree has been on your property so long, I would suggest you save many good pieces make lumber and make the wife some lovely rustic furniture to remain in the family for many generations to come

[@deliverybryan1138]

SirMonkknight I totally agree 👍🏻👍🏻

[@fprintf]

Nice orange outfit, looks brand new! It also looks like you are enjoying your new toys including a toolbelt full of woodsman stuff that has never been used! I love tools myself so I know the feeling.

[@orgcoast]

Great vid. That Husky is a powerful and fast machine.

[@aprilgarrahan3245]

Great value and design of your video. Well played music and shots. Thank you for another entertaining and informative vlog.

[@TheFarmacySeedsNetwork]

It's always the sketchy trees that hang on till the bitter end! :)

[@davidhawley1132]

I’ve got two trees that split like that, one a meter up and another 3 meters up. This video helped me a lot on how to think about felling them safely.

[@joyryde531]

Fine job,You and your brother are awesome and very knowledgeable about trees.

[@mikerom9958]

That's one sharp saw! Good job, well done. Thank you.

[@edwindude9893]

Good job. Always take your time.

[@rhondaweber5638]

Holy cow you're completely decked out for this. My husband and his brother have a tree business. I help them sometimes chipping the branches and clean up. We also have a couple lifts so we would have went up into the lift and gotten that broken part off the remaining tree first. Peace🌳🌲

[@rking674]

WOW that tree was stubborn. Nice job! Thanks for showing a safe way to fell it.

[@SakimasRidgeHomestead]

Good job on a difficult tree! We have 6 big wild cherries right along the back of the house we need to take down soon, they are getting the soft/rotten core like yours had.

[@laurakay709]

I love your videos. They keep getting better. The drone shots are an excellent addition!

[@russdrummond7292]

That was, as we would say in Australia, a "bugger of a tree". As Fred comments below, it was a widow-maker alright, and it fought to the very last cut. Well done Sir.

[@FarmFreshIB]

Wow that was quite a tree. It really show cased your skills. Good job!

[@EJRhees]

Wow! That sucker just did not want to go down. Good job

[@CassySoSassy]

Oh you make me want a drone. :) great video and good job with that tree!!

[@sueleigh1018]

Man, my heart was in my throat! I'm glad you were experienced and used such caution and good judgment. It's past my bedtime but now I've got too much adrenaline pumping to go to sleep and it's all your fault, Simeon!!

[@monabale8263]

Masterful. Love the tension created by that final strand of danger clinging with seeming trickery up it's sleeve as it lured you closer and CLOSER. This same situation here in oklahoma (or texas) would have involved five guys, four trucks, a tractor, a dog, three onlooking cows and a horse.Oh, and the ol'timer hovering around, telling everybody how they would've done it when he was a kid. Throw in all the comealongs that can be scrounged up and there you have it; a perfect day of fun... XD! btw; quite suave looking in your work coveralls. Very professional.

[@craigmooring2091]

Good, safe job! It seems a shame if there's no wood in that cherry salvageable for cabinetry or carving.

[@daemonember]

Glad to see you posting again! Even the pre-uploaded chain saw review.

[@daemonember]

Also it's cherry so if you need to smoke some meat... Will be delicious

[@daemonember]

I really need to learn to watch the entire video them comment. I also liked the subtle physics lesson. Do a cut on the branch stop cutting and start cutting from underneath and meet the upper cut. Let gravity help you and be safe about it. The upper cut allows some bend to the branch and lets the branch sag into the chainsaw from underneath.

[@dennisst.germaine3497]

Great job Simione! Great videography! Oh yah, nice outfit!

[@brianworley7705]

Nicely done!

[@markfowler2066]

I was reminded to go back and look at your brother's chain saw sharpening video. Can't find that outstanding file guide here in Chattanooga. God bless, Mark

[@MrThenry1988]

Dang dude you got all the garb. Looking sharp.

[@gordonreed248]

Nicely done job. You kept it safe all the way through and explored what might happen next with each decision you made. One change you might consider is that cherry makes excellent wood for a smoker if you ever cook that way.

[@ctwalan7034]

Well done, Sir.

[@shawnweese6669]

we called trees like that "widowmakers". great video

[@oldtimeengineer26]

good job. I would have just hooked a chain around the outer limbs and pulled it down with a tractor

[@rhondaweber5638]

old time engineer 👍

[@tomjohnson9976]

Yes, seems safer to pull it hard away from you.

[@rd-ch1on]

old time engineer I was thinking the same thing

[@julier1080]

It might not have pulled down, but at least with tension on it from the tractor then you start cutting and know which way it’s going to fall. For just using a saw, he did a good job and mostly safe practice.

[@daveg1747]

Rhonda Weber me to

[@devankrebs4477]

Thank you I learned some very useful tips and tricks.

[@tomstitt3449]

Good sharp chain makes life that much easier when tackling this kind of awkward timber. Well made video. 👍👍👍

[@djor316]

wonderful careful job Simeon.I agree with judthemagicdragon your getting better with each video you do.I also love when you include your children in the video's too.Keep up the awesome work Sir

[@tokyocoates]

Very nicely done, dead trees are totally unpredictable.

[@birchwoodfella9398]

Great job! Well done, Sir!

[@johnme7049]

Nicely done.

[@dianamallory8535]

That ole tree just didn't want to fall!

[@famasmaster2000]

This was fun to watch....good job. Have you ever had the opportunity to see the Buckin Billy Ray Smith channel ? Very good woodsman and there is lots to see and learn there as well. Good job 👍

[@sharondemond9254]

Wow. I don't know anything about cutting down trees but it was very interesting. 🌲

[@dgsports69]

Good job. Enjoy your worksmanship

[@ciaobella8963]

Great job Simeon! :-)

[@KarlBunker]

Nice work! Excellent chainsaw use and felling, good video editing, and good use of drone footage.

[@heresmytake2782]

Yes, that was very dangerous. Well done!

[@gasparfornari213]

los felicito me he vuelto fanatico de sus videos gracia por enseñarnos tecnicas de trabajo ,lo profecionales que son ustedes saludos a ti y a tu hermano desde argentina

[@arminarbor1484]

The way you handle the chainsaw looks very professional!

[@ladygray4]

I found myself holding my breath when you got down to those last few cuts. Wow! What a shame you can't use that wood for building or carving anything. Cherry wood is gorgeous!

[@ANILTHEPRO1]

how do you get the camera to move so fast around and at the end? someone running with it or driving? drone?

[@rustybird4955]

Good job...I would have tried the tractor first,but that your call....as for how you did do it,great ! Done many that way myself...worked on tree crews many years.... hurricane clean up/down power lines ect....Andrew thru Ike....good job!

[@almollitor]

I love the drone work!

[@Flexaret]

Always tricky dealing with windblown, most of my work is extracting windblown trees, often from places with no access for heavy machinery. It's quite difficult to watch a video of someone else doing it, as a viewer you don't get the real picture and can't hear, see and feel how the tree is reacting the way the guy on the ground can, it looked pretty dodgy at times LOL :-) . I've often noticed logs releasing tension when being cut to shorter lengths long after the tree has been felled, you can hear the cracking sound and feel the tension transmitted through the saw. Good video and a nice job.

[@tflynn2232]

Hi guys, can I ask, have you ever done a video on "kickback "?

[@chelemichele1524]

Slow and steady ... safety first...very stubborn tree!

[@rockofagesusa7942]

Don’t that big saw wear you out ? I know it cuts faster but is it worth it ?

[@NoTengoIlusiones]

Are u planting new trees to replace ? Cheers

[@Ady11000]

Good safe removal of a broken tree there and the filming was epic using a drone just makes it a lot more interesting . Keep them coming .

[@TimberTrainer]

Very good. It's always a good idea to cut the material with less pressure first, and clear it out of the way. After all the smaller material is cleared, you only have a couple of logs to deal with that are lighter and more predictable. The greater the challenge, the greater the reward.

[@Starlord0143]

Interesting, good job.

[@bobhamilton5385]

You have a tractor rope/chains. Your wife should give you a ' slap side the head' for not using them. That tree was dangerous and there is no reason to chance having that tree come down on you. Even putting the bucket against the tree is simple enough protection. Don't take chaces if you don't have to.

[@tobiasnielsen9564]

@@jbbrown7907 Safe is a relative term. You use a tractor and chains when you have them, not only safer, also more effective.

[@djandysingosari]

Are you using go pro cam??

[@slycat1939]

You cut that tree exactly like my husband would have. We cut lots of trees for firewood. There was to many times he would scare me thinking a tree would fall on him. I called him the tree expert. Never had one fall on him. But he did fall out of a tall tree once. Luckily only hurt his pride and made him mad at the tree. Ha Ha Great video and loving the drone. Good to see you out in the good weather working again. Hopefully weather will get better for us all soon. God bless and keep you and your family always.

[@TheToolnut]

Good stuff, you have a good grasp of compression and tension. That said a polesaw is a great tool to have for such trees. It give one a bit of stand off and eliminates the temptation to cut above shoulder height with a saw. Also the chain on your 572xp is a bit tight.

[@spentacle]

I think I would have tried pulling the furthest branch first with a tractor and rope to see if it would break off.

[@tereselapree222]

spentacle as hard as that branch hung on, I doubt the tree would have given up that branch.

[@spentacle]

Perhaps not, but I would have a measure of how well it was attached.

[@julier1080]

It could have been pulled from the side, then even if the trunk didn’t break you have tension and know which way it will go and can cut the trunk as you pull, but that takes 2 people. Even then there is the possibility the trunk will pop back in the opposite direction the top fell.

[@brianwade8649]

Well done. The last couple of cuts had me tense.

[@lucpainchaud1053]

Beau travail Simeon!

[@fredthorne9692]

Yes Sir, that tree was a Widowmaker no doubt. Your method was very educational and any potential tragedies were avoided....praise the Lord.

[@countrywoodsman7734]

Very dangerous 🌳 with all those big limbs that wanted to turn, very good to be patient. 👍

[@jessicasnaplesfl7474]

Love your protective clothing!

[@JohnMcNerney]

A nicely done take-down. Hung-up trees and blow-downs always take a bit of thinking and planning to do safely. I've been doing some of the same with some 15-20" DBH Red Oaks that blew partway over in a windstorm last October at my place. Most of them were tipped over exposing the root ball, with the top end hanging in another tree. The first one was a fun and interesting challenge. After that, it was just plain work.

[@tereselapree222]

John McNerney trees tipped over and hung up in another tree are super unpredictable !

[@JohnMcNerney]

Exactly! When I took level 4 of the Game of Logging class, we spent most of a day intentionally hanging up trees and then figuring out how to get them down. I learned a lot of interesting techniques that day. Since we were felling the trees to hang them up, we didn't have to deal with the root ball issues. That can add a whole other level of complication. Watching the root ball stand back up after you cut it off can be fun ... when you are expecting it. A friend once had his running chainsaw yanked out of his hands and thrown about 20 feet when he saw cutting a blow-down and did not expect the root ball to stand back up. He had left about 6 feet of trunk attached to the root ball. It acted like a trebuchet or catapult for his saw.

[@freethinker873]

That Husqvarna sounds, and cuts amazing. Which one is it?

[@Cooksonite]

Nice work bro ✌👌

[@danielschneider1504]

That was tense... nice job

[@thomasmach7655]

What a cute promotional video

[@MRSketch09]

Good video. I'm surprised this was "Scary" to you, if it were still up in the air it would be scary to me, but being as its done fallen over, and most of its on the ground, hell theirs not really much left for gravity to yank down.. is the way I look at it. Plus its out in a field and can just fall over and not crush anything..

[@johna1160]

Bet Baby Brother Tim was impressed when he saw this. Even if it's not entirely true, big brothers righteously claim "I taught him everything he knows" !

[@pwleppa]

You made it well Simeon. Your small tractor could have been useful to pull the top of the tree to the ground. Thanks again for this video.

[@geekay4703]

Nicely done. Was that the 527xp?