Blogs

A Giant Falls

Introduction

Recently, we decided to cut down the large cypress next to the house. While I hate cutting down trees, especially old, established trees, I was still worried that this tree was the starting point for the lightning strike that we had at the end of January 2024. Because it sheds its [very fine] leaves throughout the year, these leaves form a mat above the downpipes in the gutters. These blockages cause the gutters to overflow, damaging the wooden fascia boards.

This is a photo documentary of the tree coming down. As it was in a relatively confined space on the boundary with a neighbour, the feller had to know what he was doing.

The following is more of a photo journal, so there is not too much commentary.

Felling the tree

The feller started at around 0915.

The feller was not a tall man, but from his height, you can get a feel for the height of the tree. His modus operandi was to trim the branches to give himself footholds to climb the tree. He anchored himself on the higher footholds with a safety chain. His saw was also hooked up to this chain. His action was to cut a branch, catch it with one hand and then guide it to the pile of branches on the ground.

And the top went roughly one hour after commencement. In this pic you can see his action of catching the cut branch and guiding it to the ground.

I was impressed that not a single branch fell into the neighbour's yard. All that landed on his side of the wall was wood chips.

(26 November 2025)