How to: Safely Operate a Chain Saw

Operating a chain saw is a very dangerous task for both homeowners and professionals a like; a chain saw doesn't care if it's cutting wood or a body limb! Professionals are trained and become certified on how to safely operate a chain saw; with any repeated use of dangerous machine and human error, professionals are injured and killed each year by chain saws. Unlike professionals who are trained, homeowners each year buy chain saws to cut firewood, branches, and whole trees with little to no experience. Over the last five years the total annual chain saw accidents requiring medical attention increased from 70,000 to 135,000 which is increasing 10% each year. The numbers don't lie there is a problem and the only training the homeowner gets is personal experience or the owner manual purchased with the chain saw, we all know that everyone reads them as soon as they get home. The safety tips on how to safely operate a chain saw.

• Keep a firm grip on front and back handle. Keep your thumb wrapped completely around both handles.
• Keep a Chain saw properly maintained -- Check out our post called Chain saw maintenance
• Wear personal protection equipment (PPE): Safety glasses, hear protection, helmet, chainsaw chaps,  and proper foot wear (all PPE's must be ANSI approved)         
• Position the chainsaw so to keep the cutting attachment clear of your body.  

• Use chain brake whenever moving around while saw is running.
• Don't operate above shoulder height.
• Avoid using or contact with the upper quadrant of the tip of the guide bar. 

Any questions you may have I will be more than willing to answer and no question is stupid besides the one not asked! This isn't a supplement for training or a owners manual!  

Why Topping Hurts Trees

Topping, heading, stubbing or dehorning

Topping of a trees is still occurring even though with more than 50 years of studies and research that shows and explains the reasons why this practice of mutilating trees is not acceptable pruning technique. The evidence of this mutilation is just outside my door in Barker, NY where I can count from the front a total of four trees that have been topped. The last year there was five but since then I removed one due to the fact of the tree rotting from the top down becoming a hazard to the house, the last four trees are on the chopping block over the next few years for the same reasons. Its a shame that trees that should out last their owners are destroyed to save money, lack of knowledge, lack of public awareness, and greed. Tree topping can be corrected in the sense of improving the condition of the tree by selectively cutting weak connected branches (i.e: water sprouts and epicormic branches).

Tree topping causes:

• Decay (especially from the top down)
• Weakly connected Branches
• Stresses the tree
• Creates Hazards (due to weak branch connection)
• Decreases the value of your property
• Increases your liability ( Because topping is considered an unacceptable pruning practice, any damage caused by branch failure of a topped tree may lead to a finding of negligence in a court of law)
• Makes the tree(s) ugly 
• Expensive (due to the increase to maintenance)

Articles:
Tree Topping Hurts Trees
Stop Topping Trees! by Virgina Tech

Tree after being topped

Thanks to Forestry Images for the images.

February's Newsletter: Root of the Problem

Roots are the organ of a tree that serves to maintain mechanical support, to provide essential elements from the soil absorption, and to store energy reserves. (Dr. Alex Shigo, p.94) The roots provide the upper transport system and leaves with water and element/minerals while the roots depends of the phloem the food from the upper transport system and leaves. So in turn a strong root system means a strong transport system and leaves and vise versa. Many of the above ground symptoms of the problems are secondary to the roots problems that are primary issue; to understand roots one most know how they grow and function.

The tip of a root is covered by a thimble like root cap, which protects the delicate apical meristem as the root punches through the abrasive soil during primary growth. The root cap also secretes a polysaccharide (Cellouse) slime that lubricates the soil around the tip of the root. The primary root gives rise to lateral root, also called branch roots. This type of root stores sugar and starches that the plant will consume during flowering and fruit production. Fibrous roots grow off the lateral roots, which both types of root have root hairs. Root hairs and fibrous root are both designed to increase surface area for the absorption of water and minerals.

Soil Compaction is a major problem that trees face each day in urban environment and in the forest because of human interaction. Soil compaction can occur from lawn tractors, lawn rollers, heavy foot traffic, vehicle off pavement, and construction equipment. As the soil becomes compacted the pore space between minerals and organic materials is reduced, water and air can’t accumulate a decrease in supply for roots to absorb, along with the roots have a reduced amount of space to grow. Combating Soil Compaction written by Cooperative Extension explains in more depth.          

Great articles on soil compaction:
Combating Soil Compaction by Cooperative Extension - University of Delaware  
Soil Compaction Impact on Tree Roots by University of Georgia
Soil Compaction Impact on Tree Roots (website) by University of Georgia
Deep Root Blog - Article on How deep do tree roots grow?

These root system problems that can lead to your tree being in poor health or dying is to take proper preventative steps to stop the occurrences causing the problem or reverse the damage already done. Soil compaction can be prevented by hiring a consultant to draft a plan for the contractor to follow to decrease the risk of both soil compaction and root damage. Consultants can also be hired onto, also enforce the policy of a plan written. Planting and transplanting tree(s) into compacted soil area cause many different problems that could lead to a short lived tree or unhealthy tree. Treeman Tom & Consulting provides this level of knowledge and service.