Tree Work 3

By about 11:00 a.m. on Monday Tim was ready to finish cutting down my poplar.  This tree clearly had problems in addition to its distinctive tilt.  For example, the large branch that cracked at the trunk and got hung up in adjoining cedars — the branch that sharp-eyed Judy spotted last week — had been weakened by long-term rot.  I assume that a recent windstorm played on that weakness, with almost disastrous results for my propane tank.

The joint for the cracked branch had been
undermined by years of rot.

Tim took a break before finishing off the trunk.  My neighbor Floyd, who with several friends maintains a large woodlot at hone near Toronto, chatted with Tim about tree-cutting technique.  Meanwhile, the ground crew cleaned up the driveway to keep their working area hazard free.

The ground workers cleared up debris...

...while Tim (left) and Floyd traded tree-cutting arcana.

Some sections of the trunk needed three strong backs to move.

Tim broke out his 42-inch chainsaw — the longest chainsaw I've ever laid eyes on! — and went to work on the lowest 30-odd feet of the trunk.  He first cut a wedge on the northeast side to direct the trunk's fall onto the driveway, and then cut through from the opposite side.  In just a couple minutes, the trunk bit the dust.

Tim starts work on the trunk while Shane
applies a little "English" on the opposite side.

Tim cuts the wedge which will place the tree on the driveway.

A couple minutes later the trunk topples over...

...and flips up as it hits the ground.

Once on the ground, the tree showed how unstable it had become over the years.  A lightning strike many years ago left a long, deep split in the bark.  That, in turn, allowed moisture to intrude into the tree's core, leading to rot at the base of the trunk.  It's unlikely the tree would have survived the coming winter.  And if it had toppled over, it might have flipped my propane "pig."

Extensive rot at the base of the tree made it clear that
my Leaning Tower would soon have fallen.

All that remained was to cut up the trunk.  The base section was so weak that Tim's crew were able to pry it apart with their bare hands!

Tim's helpers carry a section of the base to the woodpile.

The guys turn the trunk while Floyd and Tim watch.

Tim cuts off the last few inches of the trunk.

The last of my Leaning Tower is reduced to chunks of wood! 

Later this summer I will have these large pieces of wood cut, split, and moved to my main woodpile.  After drying for 2-3 years, I'll make them ready for the wood stove. •••