Tips on How to Cut Down a Pine Tree

Do you have a pine with dead branches that needs to go? Let's find out how to remove it

Is there a dead pine tree on your property that's dead or dying and needs to go? Or maybe it's coming dangerously close to a structure and you're worried about it falling and damaging something.

Thankfully there is a lot of experience out there in felling trees, and we've collected some of the best advice from property owners and arborists who cut down pine trees for a living. 

So let's get into the basics of cutting down pines.

Before starting though, we highly advise you only perform tasks in which you are qualified. If a task falls outside your expertise and abilities then we recommend consulting a professional arborist who can provide an educated perspective.

When should I cut down pine trees?

Pine trees, like all others, are living things that age and suffer from poor health conditions. When that happens it can become unsafe to leave them standing and it may be required to cut them down.

Some of the reasons you may need to cut down a pine tree include when the tree is:

• • Standing dead

  • Suffering from pest damage like termites or ash borers

  • Diseased (this may be necessary to prevent the spread to other trees in the stand)

  • Has many dead branches

  • Half the pine needles are falling off

  • Is leaning towards a building or utility line

  • When you're thinning a woodlot

  • Could cause significant damage if branches came loose during a storm

Whether it's healthy, dying or dead there are plenty of reasons why you'd need to cut down a pine tree.

What is pine tree topping?

Tree topping is the process of cutting off the "top" part of the tree, reducing its total height. This is often done if the branches are hitting utility lines or obstructing sightlines.

To top off a pine tree means to significantly reduce its size, but doing so harms the overall health of the tree. It will likely be much weaker and have more fragile branches, as well as it makes the tree unshapely.

If you have a diseased or troublesome pine, you can top this tree without killing it but you risk opening it up to disease through its new wound.

How much can I top off a pine tree?

Because topping a pine tree can cause significant harm to it, it's recommended you remove as little as possible. For more trees that are old and around 80 feet in height you may want to consult a professional arborist for an expert opinion, or else risk the tree's health or your own safety.

How do I trim a pine tree?

Trimming can be a useful alternative to cutting down or topping a pine tree, reducing its overall volume. Some trees may also have multiple branches growing upwards, a defect that can be corrected by removing said branches.

Just take a pruning tool and trim off any branches causing problems. Pine trees can be trimmed annually, just remember this is a delicate process as improper trimming can harm the tree's health.

Only prune branches which are dead or dying, such as lower branches not getting a lot of sunlight. You can tell if branches are not strong and need pruning if there aren't many pine needles remaining intact.

Does pruning my pine tree damage it?

Light, seasonal pruning shouldn't cause much harm. Pine trees are hardy and can recover from occasional pruning. But you should be careful since disease forms around pruning wounds, and if you trim too many branches you could weaken the tree's overall health.

How do I cut down a pine tree?

If you've realized topping or pruning your pine tree isn't going to work it may be time to consider cutting down your pine tree. Remember to follow all proper safety procedures before taking on this task and seek professional help if you're unable to safely do the job yourself.

Step 1: Assess the Tree

Take a look at the tree, performing a review to assess what work needs to be done. This can be done as a landowner but you may need to get an arborist in to take a look, because they might have a professional opinion that conflicts with your own. It's possible they could suggest remediation instead of outright removing the tree.

Some of the indicators a tree needs to be removed include:

• • You have a very tall tree (such as one more than 80 feet in height) next to your home and fear the damage it could cause if it fell

  • A pine tree is growing upwards and will come into contact with utility lines

  • The tree is unhealthy and strong winds could cause it to come down without notice and damage property

When looking at your tree ask yourself what happens when you cut it down. See how it will fall and what footprint it will take up when it lands. Make sure you have appropriate room around the tree to cut it down.

Step 2: Prepare your Worksite

Minimize the amount of work you have to do when you tree finally hits the ground. If the pine tree can be trimmed, then remove as many branches as you can, so that way you're just left with felling the trunk, leaving you with a simple log you can roll or haul away.

Clear out the area where your tree is going to land. If you require equipment like a tractor to move the log afterwards then make sure there is ample room to maneuver it.

Step 3: Cut Down the Pine Tree

If you've assessed your tree is too tall or unhealthy or needs to come down and you've done all the prepwork then it's time to finally cut it down.

As you would for any tree make sure it's being cut in such a way that it falls away from any structures and does not get hung up on any neighboring trees. If it does then getting it down could be a bigger challenge and safety risk than it's worth.

Make sure you're wearing all the appropriate safety gear including hearing and eye protection, chainsaw pants, gloves and everything else required to do the task safely.

Routine, small-scale tree cutting is doable for most property owners but if a task could potentially cause damage to yours or someone else's property, or poses a safety risk then consider hiring a professional to come in and help.

Getting Rid of Tree Branches

Pine tree branches can be bothersome to deal with and take up a lot of room on your property. To deal with them you should get a wood chipper, thus giving you an endless supply of wood chips to use around your property, such as in gardens as bedding or footpaths around your property.

The Woodland Mills TF810 PRO would be a great option since it can easily deal with a high volume of tree branches and process them into a useful pile of wood chips.

Summary: Follow these Steps to Cut Down Your Pine

Cutting down pine trees is very common for woodlot or private forest owners and everyday it's done safely, but precaution should be taken to ensure the health of your forest on top of your own personal wellbeing.

Always follow these steps:

• • Assess the tree, checking to see if it can be saved with careful pruning or topping

  • Get a professional assessment if you're unsure of your opinion

  • Make sure you have a lot of room around your tree

  • Wear all the property safety equipment and only fell the tree if you're comfortable and qualified