How to Measure the Height of a Tree - Simple

[@1SGPARKER]

To ensure your "stick" [Yardstick] is perfectly straight up and down drill a small hole in the tip of the yardstick and tie a piece of Paracord through the hole using a knot to prevent it from slipping out. Then cut the length of the paracord to the desired length and tie a stainless steel nut to that end. When you hold the stick at arm's length you can adjust the angle using Gravity to bring the nut alongside the stick. Viola! 90 degrees!

[@JoelGrant-ie4ly]

Not a woodsman but I do appreciate good humor. You reminded me of the old Red Green show out of Canada.

[@virginiamoss7045]

Oh, how I miss him!

[@michaellee9883]

@@virginiamoss7045That’s a funny show.

[@lawrenceeytcheson1317]

We ain't THAT OLD! Red Green rules!😅

[@erice9536]

Sure glad this works, it's the same method I use when I put the wife on the tractor to pull on a tree so I can make sure the tree doesn't damage the tractor by landing on it.

[@mikehughes2026]

And if the wife comes away unscathed all the better!!

[@mikekelley8291]

Or the wife.

[@Lodberg67]

😂😂😂

[@joshlower1]

​@@mikekelley8291the wife is replaceable, tractors are forever

[@danvankouwenberg7234]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@Bushman9]

I’ve been using a similar method for estimating how far the top of the tree will land from the stump. No stick required. Hold your arm straight out like you were doing, but bend your forearm up 90 degrees at the elbow. Now distance yourself from the tree to the point where your elbow is at the bottom of the tree and your fingertips are at the top. Now turn your forearm level to the ground. Your fingertips are where the top of the tree will land. It’s pretty accurate and quick.

[@MrTrecutter1]

Exactly how I do it. 25+ years in residential tree service. I've won many bets

[@kenbrown2808]

mind you, that' just the distance from the stump that the top of the tree will land. getting it to land there still requires being able to cut accurately.

[@rickeykeeton4770]

Do you mean turn firearm horizontally? If so, why not just go by where your elbow is?

[@kenbrown2808]

@@rickeykeeton4770 first, because there is no firearm involved. second, because your elbow stays at the base of the tree. and you have to have a really fast cutting saw to cu a tree down and have the top of the tree land at the base fo the tree. or cut the tree from the top. and another way he could have said it is to rotate your arm so your elbow remains at the base of the tree and your forearm is parallel to the ground. that shows you were the tree will fall if it goes in the direction you expect it to.

[@000-z8n]

@@kenbrown2808 Are all tree dudes comedians, or what?

[@grandpakevin1]

Great humor! It made the video. Based on the comments I don’t think most folks appreciated it (or understood it) but it was awesome! And the method is cool too

[@IvorClegg]

Ha! You've reminded me of my Forestry Instructor demonstrating this method many years ago: after getting the stick to the correct length, he'd say "you then put one end of the stick up to your remaining good eye..." :-)

[@Shenkosky]

You could also put a bowl of water down on the ground and when you can see the very top of the trees reflection in that bowl of water you are exactly 💯 on brother!

[@jamesgrossman78]

thanks for the tip. I’ll have to try this one.

[@twagenknecht]

Trig for trees. Love it! Who knew maths were important in the woods. Great channel. Keep up the great work!

[@TheOldManAndTheSaw]

Good information to know. I'm going to go over to the neighbor's from lawn and try it. To check the accuracy I'll cut down the tree and actually measure it. Of course I'll wait til they're not home to do this.

[@Lodberg67]

😂😂😂

[@davesteier-xf5lh]

Presents! / Charity work! ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ such a caring neighbor let’s em know “you’re watching” …out for his place …making sure it doesn’t run away while he’s gone wink Everybody loves a surprise! Like that Navy Seal and his wife jumping on his back “I yelled SURPRISE DAMNIT!?” Specially when they get back home. I’m lol ing the hell out of this post

[@TheOldManAndTheSaw]

I think I'll start slowly by telling them "I'm watching you and everything you do". They'll sleep better that way.

[@Colorado_Native]

Funny. And how tall was the tree? And this my friends is why almost everybody has a Ring camera.

[@TheOldManAndTheSaw]

Thanks for the heads up! I'll wear a mask.

[@stevegabbert9626]

You're a hoot, Wilson. Sure glad you found a "thing", it must have been close to a "round about".

[@BeautifuLakesStreamsBiologists]

Nice explanation of the Biltmore stick ! I used this as a kid to win a Boy Scout summer camp competition. It really does work!

[@Qwickset]

4:18 Has yard stick in hand while he goes to get "a thing" 🤣 I love the juxtaposition of education and humor on this channel....never fails to get at least one chuckle out of me

[@davidhrutfiord2537]

Another way is to walk out a random distance away, hold a stick vertical at arms length, shorten it to the hight of the tree (I've not been able to stretch them longer, so you might need bigger stick). Then rotate it horizontal. With one end at the base of the tree the other end will fall on a spot the height away from the tree. I like the 45 degree method you showed us, but I use this method to quickly see if I fall a tree to the side how far it will reach. You can measure how far that spot is if curious, but knowing what it's going to hit is usually more important.

[@matthewward631]

Old school, but it works. Been using this method for years. Helps to avoid hitting stuff when I’m working in close quarters.

[@WilsonForestLands]

It helps me know where to put my stunt camera so the tree won’t hit it. 😁

[@kenball8526]

Great video, I appreciate the subtle humor.

[@dwaynebramlett9763]

Loved the funny antics and humor. I have used this method for 50 + yrs and it is very effective. I wear nothing but Merino wool socks-wonderful for your feet. Great illustration for me a diagram would be great too

[@bigal25938]

Simpler way. Mark the tree from the ground up to a known height. Say 5 feet. Mark that place on the tree. Back up a distance and use the tape. Hold your tape vertical at arms length and measure the height of the 5 foot measurement on your tape. Then measure the height of the tree on your vertical tape. If say the 5' mark measured 1 inch on your tape and the tree measured 20 inches, multiply 5 x 20 and the tree is 100 feet tall.

[@richardpark3054]

Even simpler: 1) Cut tree down; 2) measure felled tree.

[@williepelzer384]

Just have your wife climb the tree and lower the tape down! How hard is that!

[@RazorStrap]

@@richardpark3054 After the tree has been felled it's not as tall.

[@richardpark3054]

@@RazorStrap But it's hella wider!

[@bhenderson7651]

After he put me to sleep I knew there was a better way thanks

[@jatimmonsjr]

A golf range finder would be perfect to shoot the distance from the “x” to the tree. Great video. Thanks.

[@BushCampingTools]

Love the humour, love the info. All should know this technique for when u don't have that clinometer or protractor etc.

[@belowfray5251]

I got some camel city mills merino wool socks. Happy with them. Good cushion

[@GarrisonFall]

Thank you for the information... and your dry humor. I don't know why KZbin led me to this video, but I'm sure glad it did!

[@gregdebree5782]

great method ... if you are on flat ground. Never been in a forest that was that flat.

[@JaniceFriesen-m7d]

Am not a woodsman but have subscribed just because of the manner in which you present and cover your topics . Good stuff .

[@onthefarside2096]

I like this guy's humor and his method for finding how high the tree is.

[@oetsitty7903]

😂😂 humor + explanatory = great teacher ❤

[@CuriousEarthMan]

Great video! I was going to use a laser pointer and a protractor. This seems easier!

[@wildemath]

What a great application of similar triangles!

[@mattdrayer6191]

I watch stand up comedy sometimes and this is funnier than most of that! You must be a dad ! Thanks for the info !

[@naturewatcher7596]

Great simple method. Will try it on my giant pines. Thank you.

[@PragmaticSolutions-l4m]

You forgot to mention, if you are standing below the stump [in elevation], then you subtract from overall distance. If you are standing above, then add to the distance. Good video.

[@roybuckle7576]

You could also measure the shadow of the stick (a known length) and compare it with the tree's shadow

[@bellowphone]

Sadder but wiser; I did the backwards crab walk and fell into a gopher hole. You were right to advise against it.

[@Thomas-ts2gl]

45 degrees. distance is same on each side. Like your method. Thumbs up!

[@brentbosworth8845]

This is an OLD way but good way. I learned this in high school in the 70's. We all measured the flagpole in front of the school.

[@gobarbless3871]

This is a very good old-fashioned method based on one of the basic rules of geometry. Nice work getting people to use geometry without knowing it. 😁

[@jondeeca]

Love your sense of humour!

[@JoshNoss]

Glad I seen this video.. my method I came up with on the spot was: use the stick exactly as you did, then tilt the stick over to see where the top would likely go.. trying to measure a Oak to make sure it's not going to crush a shed when I drop it. Will be double-checking with this method. I don't need to know the actual height in feet, just whether that height will reach a particular point so I assume a string will suffice in place of the measuring tape as the longest one I've got is 25'

[@larrybellucci4708]

Good job, thanks. Like your sense of humor.

[@Andy-zl1rp]

straight talking no nonsense as usual keep up good work,

[@Timeline916]

Can you put a link in so I can find one of those fancy sticks with the lines on it ?

[@stevendeen4391]

Very useful. Thank you , for uploading. I had a flashback to my geometry teacher talking about the French army using their hat and steps to measure the distance( rivers).

[@jefff6167]

Thanks for taking the time to create this video. Very interesting.

[@mamajan99]

I learned triangulation tree measurement in the Boy Scouts decades ago. Sight the top of a tree with a 45 degree angle. You have just made a right triangle so then measure your distance to the tree's base. It's simple.

[@purryegbert8609]

Love the humor.

[@MadDogClyde741]

Wilson man you’re awesome ! You cracked me up and it was a pleasure watching your video and learning how to do something I never thought of ! Thanks so much for the video and the entertainment. I’m subscribing to your site because I believe what ever you teach me will be enjoyable ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@ms.rickie]

Great video. I love it when I learned something new every day.😊

[@DanielAtkinsFirewood]

Thanks for the class today. Never know what i may learn today 😉👍

[@BytheWay333]

An x marks the spot? You just pissed off a Bigfoot! Good luck! lol! Thanks for the lesson! God bless! 😀

[@danttapp4446]

Simple and to the point. Might be a couple of inches off, but they would have to climb the tree to find out. I like it, thanks.

[@southernadirondackoutdoors]

Yup, it works. Is Part 2 felling the tree to see if it hits the 'X'???

[@WilsonForestLands]

I was thinking I might do that at some point. I just need to find a good candidate that I want to cut down that is not in some steep nasty place that would make it hard to do that kind of a video. I already cut most of those ones down before I even thought about doing this video.

[@Bob-en1ge]

I used a helium balloon on a string. My neighbor looked confused. I used the string then to measure the distance to the Corvette in his driveway. He understood and moved it into the garage.

[@poladelarosa8399]

Useful info and clear presentation. No tall trees in my area, but always wondered how #%dawlfully tall the bank sign on a pole near my place is. ¡Gracias!

[@johnglenn30csardas]

I really needed this information right now! Thanks very much.

[@inregionecaecorum]

I use a clinometer and an app I created in Excel. I mean yes I know that if you walk to a point where the top of the tree is at 45 degrees, the tree is the distance to the tree plus the distance from the ground to your eye level, but it isn't always possible to walk to a convenient point where you can still see the tree.

[@chascook]

At 2:00 the stick doesn’t need to be at 90 degrees to your arm. But it does need to be plumb or vertical, which is easier to determine.

[@RaymondHaskins-l3t]

I have seen some use a container with water. When you can see the reflection of the top of the tree, measure from water to tree.

[@BandiMasha]

Brilliant video. Thankyou for your insight and humour 😅

[@111000100101001]

Thanks for explaining!

[@digger413]

Thanks teacher ,reminds me of my third grade teacher with yard stick

[@MrTruckerf]

My third grade teacher used a yardstick, too; for a paddle on naughty children.

[@kathyhathaway8823]

I learned this back in FFA in middle school. BUT that was a lot of years ago so I had forgotten all the steps to do. Thank you for reminding me of how it was done an how many yearssssssss ago that was . LOL THANKS

[@MyClutteredGarage]

This is helpful to estimate where the top of tree will land when you cut it down.

[@MrTruckerf]

Is that why he did it? I thought he just liked playing with sticks in the forest.

[@kenball8526]

Those socks look great too!

[@JimCoder]

Alternatively, you can use a protractor and plumb bob to measure the angle of elevation between the base and top of the tree then multiply the tangent of that angle by your distance from the tree. Add the height of your eyes above the ground to be exact.

[@MrTruckerf]

Seems simpler than the stick method.

[@Drifter-u2p]

You kind of went off on a tangent there…

[@BassRowe]

thanks great video

[@glennbastarache2310]

Love your humor, you must be a dad😂 Do you have a method for estimating trees on a steep grade?

[@waterbourne9282]

Very cool. Thanks for this.

[@AlexthunderGnum]

Awesome! Thank you! My trees are on a slope, not on a flat. I cannot walk away from the tree on a straight line while remaining at level with the bottom of the tree. How would this method work in my situation?

[@theofulk5636]

A 45 degree right triangle, what we call a SPEED SQUARE, is likewise going to indicate the same distance in height as you would measure across the ground .

[@wisconsinchristian]

Yup, that is the simplest way...thought I was the only guy that uses that method.

[@davidedwards3734]

Great information!! Thanks for sharing!! Stay Hydrated and Have a Safe Day

[@jimmytate7587]

where do the sticks come from? i need some delivered so i can measure my trees.

[@thefishingstop3558]

That was pretty cool

[@mikewatson4644]

Years ago, my brother went to the woods with a coworker to cut some trees for firewood. My brother told his coworker that he should move his pickup so the tree wouldn't fall on it. The coworker said not to worry, the tree wasn't that tall. When the tree came down, it hit the pickup. Sometimes trees are longer than they are tall. Best to keep that in mind when estimating the height.

[@MrTruckerf]

Haha! Or they grow on the way down.

[@alanross3435]

Good one, thanks for your humor too.😂👍🏻☮✌🏻

[@jimmymundane1084]

Great information. Love the side commentary. You should be on youtube.

[@halcollins4293]

Are you near Possum Lodge? I loved this video.

[@Dr_piFrog]

The shadow knows !

[@ecleveland1]

You’re talking about geometry, I heard about it once. Something to do with triangles and such.

[@Ihavetwoearsandonemouth]

I reckon there were bears sat down In the background with a bag of berries saying....this guy knows his trigonometry.

[@MrTruckerf]

He could have measured the distance to the bears, too. If he had a bearometer.

[@keithdubose2150]

I used a tee square with a level bubble on a stake ... You can make sure you have a 90 degree angle

[@robintaylor-mockingeemill8223]

Thank you , you didn't touch on the technical name for this technique .

[@THEOFFGRIDMOUNTAINHOMESTEAD]

Enjoyed the video, thanks 👍

[@micharris1761]

that is pretty cool ty

[@ringerdiggsycobbsy6254]

Love the way you roll brother lol

[@birddogfarms6981]

That's exactly how they taught us in Forestry school, lo those many years ago. Tom

[@ShafnerTreeServiceLLC]

Good video!

[@stacygillard5746]

Stand your yardstick up in the dirt. Draw a circle around it an equal distance to the sticks height. Don't forget to allow for the part of the stick that is buried. Wait until the end of shadow reaches the circle. Now quickly mark the shadow of the top of the tree. That is the distance to the tree.

[@lpeterman]

In the OSU Extension "Master Woodland Manager" course, we had a field training day devoted to finding height/volume using a Forester's "Woodland stick" with all sorts of nifty calculations imprinted thereon. They can be had by searching for forestry equipment, if one is so inclined... (Sorry. Ok, not sorry.) I use the old, trusty, thumb in-line-of-sight: "Oh, 'bout 60 feet, or so..." Another installment of Wilson's Useful Tips; akin to Red Green's oft quoted: "If they can't find you handsome, at least they'll find you handy." Cheers from your less inclined neighbour to the North.

[@WilsonForestLands]

If you were to look close at that fancy yardstick I had. It says Master Woodland Manager on it and it has those nifty imprinted calculations. I went through the Master Woodland Manager program with my dad when I was a kid in the 80s. That’s where it came from.

[@fake734]

More fun to climb to the top with a 16' x 3/4" tape measure on a windy day!

[@dashriprock5720]

I've taken down a few trees and to figure where they would land, I stepped back with a stick. Hold the stick up in my line of site so the stick is at the top of the tree and my hand is at the base. Then I hold the stick horizontal and eye up where the tip of the tree would fall to the ground..I suppose you could just measure out the distance too

[@brucemartini2288]

I had to remove rotting short tree, no measuring, placed stick on ground where I planned top to land. It passed stick about 1-2 feet not bad for eyeballing

[@arunakalu]

Huh, try doing this is the temperate or tropical rain forest :-). Here in BC, there is no way you can see the top of the tree, as there ar so many trees around. Anyhow in clear conditions, I guess this works well.

[@mosunshine326]

Are you Red Green's boy? Thanks for the handy tip!

[@garryrice1954]

Very helpful! Any tips on estimating the height of a tree that has been cut (unlawfully by a neighbor), based on only the diameter of the stump and tree type? Not that that has ever happened. 😗

[@fb8966]

Very fun... Thanks

[@mikejustice1196]

Wait, at 5:12 eye level how do you measure? All sounds good but without a demo at eye level we’re all blind. Got the trunk up gig, but the other way of measuring is how? Measure eye level then add the eye level to trunk math?

[@thomassadler2806]

I used something called a Biltmore Stick during my forestry summer school at Michigan Technological University in 1976.

[@stanleyroberts4381]

I do the same way,been doing that for years😊

[@kevincorbin6273]

The funniest way to measure a person’s humor

[@joelaichner3025]

Comedian / Lumber Jack , nice combination,

[@timothystalloch6432]

Don’t forget to add in the distance from your horizontal arm to the ground.