A directional notch forms a weak point in the bottom of the trunk that determines which way the tree will fall when the felling cut is made. When done correctly, the tree will fall in line with ...

Before swinging an axe or starting up the chainsaw, take some time to learn how to cut down a tree safely.

There are several ways to fell trees and the most common is cutting a notch on the side it is to fall and then cutting from the opposite side of the tree to the notch hinge.

This can also happen if a tree was previously in a more forested area, protected by other trees that have since been cut down (to create a new housing lot, for example).