Conifer Vs Deciduous Removal Sequence

Why this matters

Conifers and deciduous trees do not come down the same way. A removal sequence calibrated to one species family is slow and risky on the other. Conifers - vertical leader, regular whorls of branches, predictable structure - reward a top-down branch-by-branch strip and short spar drops. Deciduous - co-dominant leaders, irregular crown, heavy lateral limb extension - reward block sectioning of major leaders before working the spar. This article gives the two sequences side by side and the species-by-species adjustments that change them.

Conifer removal - standard sequence

Most conifers (pine, spruce, fir, hemlock, Douglas-fir) share a similar structural pattern: single dominant leader, branch whorls spaced 1 to 3 feet apart, branches tapering smoothly with diameter related to height.

Sequence:

1. Climber ascends with SRS or DdRT to the top of the spar, tying in at the leader.
2. Top out the leader - cut and drop or rig down a 4 to 8 foot leader section depending on drop zone.
3. Working downward, strip branches one whorl at a time. Branches are cut at the trunk, dropped clear of the climber, and brushed by the ground crew.
4. As the climber descends, the tie-in is re-set every 6 to 10 feet to keep the work position close to vertical.
5. Once branches are stripped to about 15 to 20 feet above grade (or until rigging requirements appear), the climber transitions to spar removal.
6. Spar - cut, drop, and chunk in 4 to 6 foot rounds to the ground crew, or rig if drop zone is constrained.

Adjustments by species:

• White pine - brittle wood, weak unions at whorls. Test each new tie-in before transferring weight; do not assume a healthy-looking whorl will hold a climber's shock load.
• Eastern hemlock - shallow root plate, less stable spar than expected. In high-wind days, consider felling the entire tree from the ground if the drop zone permits.
• Western red cedar - soft wood, fast cuts, but the bark sloughs and is slippery. Spikes set carefully and re-set as bark releases.
• Norway spruce - sticky resin gums up bar oil and chain. Replace bar oil more often; clean chain bath at lunch.

Deciduous removal - standard sequence

Most deciduous trees (oak, maple, ash, sycamore, beech, hickory) have heavier lateral limb structure than conifers and often co-dominant leaders with included bark unions that fail unpredictably under load.

Sequence:

1. Climber ascends to a high tie-in - typically a strong union or single dominant limb above the canopy mass.
2. Survey - identify the heaviest scaffold limbs, the co-dominant leaders, included-bark unions, and any deadwood. Mark cut order in the work plan.
3. Section the major scaffold limbs first, top-down per limb (not top-down per tree). A 12-inch scaffold limb extending 30 feet lateral is cut and rigged in 3 to 6 foot tip sections before the main leader is approached.
4. As scaffolds come off, the tree's center of gravity changes. The climber re-evaluates the spar lean and the drop zone after every major piece.
5. Approach co-dominant leaders one at a time. Cut one leader off entirely before attacking the second; trying to walk down a co-dominant from the union risks sudden release as the union opens.
6. Spar - shorter pieces than conifer spar work because deciduous wood is heavier per foot. A 4-foot oak spar piece can outweigh a 6-foot pine round.

Adjustments by species:

• Red oak / pin oak - heavy wood, predictable union strength. Standard sequence with attention to weight per piece.
• Silver maple - co-dominant unions with included bark are common. Approach unions with the assumption that they will split unexpectedly.
• Bradford / ornamental pear - extremely weak unions, history of catastrophic failure under load. Rig everything; do not free-drop.
• Sycamore / London plane - heavy wood, large piece weights, and the bark slabs sloughing during the cut can interfere with hitches. Tarp the work area or clear sloughed bark frequently.
• Ash (especially EAB-affected) - structural decay invisible from the bark. Bore-test major attachment points before transferring weight.

Spar transition rules

For both families, the transition from branch / canopy work to spar removal is the highest-risk phase. Three rules:

1. Test the spar's flex by pushing against the trunk before committing weight. A spar that flexes more than expected indicates a stem defect that warrants ground-felling instead of climbing-and-chunking.
2. Set spikes carefully - too shallow and they pop out under shock load, too deep and they damage the climber's gear in the cycle.
3. Lower the saw lanyard rather than letting it dangle. A lanyard that catches on a branch or a spike during a transition is the most common gear-related fall trigger.

When the sequence inverts - top-rigging removals

A deciduous tree with a major scaffold limb hanging over a roof, pool, or fence may require approaching that limb first, before the climber settles into the work pattern. The risk is that the limb is one of the largest pieces and the climber will be working with the heaviest load early in the day. Plan the rigging system and ground crew positions for this first cut deliberately - it is not the warm-up shot.

References

1. ANSI Z133 - Safety Standard for Arboricultural Operations.
2. ANSI A300 (Part 1) - Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Maintenance Standard Practices - Pruning.
3. ISA - International Society of Arboriculture, Best Management Practices: Tree Risk Assessment.
4. TCIA - Tree Care Industry Association, Removals and Rigging Training Series.
5. USDA Forest Service - Silvics of North America (Volumes 1 and 2 for species-specific wood properties).