Shady Spot: The Importance Of Tree Care

About Me

Shady Spot: The Importance Of Tree Care

Hi. I'm Terry, and I have spent the last decade working as a landscape gardener. In the past, my company would mostly landscape new projects. In recent years, there has been great demand for repairing gardens that have been damaged by natural disasters, particularly storms. Many of the gardens we repair would have suffered less damage if trees on the property had been properly topped, pruned, treated or even removed. Falling trees and flying branches are pretty scary during a storm. They can also leave a garden decimated. I really hope the tips in my blog can save you money by helping you identify problems with your trees and by providing information about the best expertise available.

Chain Saw Safety Tips

If you have trees on your land, you'll need to remove dead branches, or even whole trees, from time to time.  In the case of particularly large trees, or if the job requires working at height, always use the services of your local tree services contractor.  You can tackle smaller jobs yourself, and having the use of a chainsaw makes this much easier and quicker.  However, a chainsaw is a potentially highly dangerous piece of kit.  Here are some essential tips to keep you safe when working with your chainsaw.

Preparation

  1. No matter how keen you are to power-up your new chainsaw and get on with the job, always take time out to read through the instruction manual first.  The manual will explain how to set up the chain saw, how to mix the fuel, lubricate the chain, and how to start the motor.  Skimping this reading and working by pure guesswork can result in accidents!  
  2. Before you power up the chainsaw, get used to holding it correctly and safely.  Always operate the throttle with your right index finger, even if you're naturally left-handed.  If you use your left index finger, you will leave yourself with a limited amount of the front handlebar to hold comfortably, and the chain will be running much closer to your body, which is particularly dangerous for operators who lack experience.  
  3. Most new model chainsaws feature a hand guard that operates a chain brake.  This safety feature prevents the chain from operating when the safety mechanism is tripped.  Make sure you know how to shut the chainsaw off immediately without having to fumble for the switch.

Safety precautions

  1. Always wear appropriate protective clothing when using your chainsaw to fell or prune trees.  This includes eye protection, a hard hat, steel toe-capped boots, ear defenders and leather gloves.  Always wear special Kevlar chaps or trousers to protect your legs from injury by the chain should you slip.  Never wear baggy, loose-fitting clothing that could get caught up in the chainsaw.  
  2. When refuelling your chainsaw, always stop the engine first and allow it to cool down.  If possible, choose a hard surface well away from dry underbrush or grass to refuel your chainsaw, and always use a funnel or a fuel can with a pouring nozzle or flexible hose to refill the fuel tank.  Never re-start the saw where you've refuelled it and don't smoke.  
  3. When moving between jobs or carrying the chainsaw back to storage, always turn it off.  Keep the guard bar pointing to the rear if you're walking on the flat, or to the front if you're moving downhill.  
  4. Never work alone when using a chainsaw; you should always have a 'buddy' with you, just in case of accidents.  Make sure at least one of you has an easily-accessible, fully-charged mobile phone and don't forget to take a first aid kit.  If you sustain a cut, apply direct pressure to the wound using a clean cloth and seek urgent medical attention.

In conclusion

You can carry out small tree-related jobs yourself using your chainsaw.  Don't cut corners when it comes to safety, and always hire a professional tree services company for large or complex jobs by going to sites like http://www.heritagetreecare.com.au.   


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