How to Fell and Dry a Fir Tree

Cut any limbs lower than the height of your shoulder from the tree trunk. Removing lower branches will get them out of your way when the tree comes down.

Make a downward cut with the chainsaw on the side of the tree you want it to fall toward. This cut should go about a third of the way into the trunk. Make a second cut coming up from below the first cut, forming a wedge of wood from the tree.

Place the chainsaw on the opposite side of the tree at the same point you started the first cut on the other side. Make this cut at a 45-degree angle toward the wedge that was removed. Carefully apply pressure to the chainsaw and cut slowly.

Remove the chainsaw and move away from the tree when you start to see it moving as you cut it. Know beforehand the path you will take to move away from the fir tree as it falls.

Cut the branches off of the trunk. These can be cut into smaller pieces for drying.

Dry the fir tree by dividing it into storable sections. If you are drying it for fire wood you can cut the trunk into 1- to 2-foot sections and stack the logs underneath a tarp, in a garage or a shed.