Tall conifer standing above leafy garden trees against a blue sky before felling work — Tall conifer rising above the garden among other trees before work began

Climber high in a conifer above a garden fence and flat-roofed garage with a ladder beside it — Climber working in the upper part of the conifer above a fence and outbuilding

Tree climber on a stripped conifer trunk with ropes against a blue sky above garden trees — Climber on the bare upper trunk, with the branches already removed

Standing section of cut trunk beside a flowering lilac with wood chip on the ground and fence panels nearby — Standing trunk section with wood chip on the ground and a lilac beside it

This job in Quinton was a tall conifer hemmed in by fencing, a flat-roofed outbuilding and other trees. Nothing could be felled in one go, so our climber took it down in stages. The photos follow the tree from a full-height shot of the crown, through the climber working near the top, to the garden with a stump of trunk and wood chip underneath.

Taking a conifer down in stages

With a conifer this tall and so little room, the usual method is sectional dismantling. The climber works up the stem and removes the branches, then cuts the top out and works downwards, lowering the pieces to the ground. Notice the bare trunk in one photo, with only a few short stubs left on it. Cut branches were piled below the climber, and a petrol blower and a yellow ladder can be seen beside the outbuilding in the second photo.

What the photos show

The last photo shows a section of trunk still standing at roughly head height, with a lilac growing beside it, a fence panel leant against the posts and a yellow bag at the edge of the frame. The ground is covered in chipped wood. That is a good example of how felling is staged. A stump can be left low or ground out by arrangement. Check for any Tree Preservation Order or conservation area with the council before cutting, and tell us about any neighbouring fences or sheds that could be affected.