How to Remove a Leaning Palm Tree

Put on safety gear. Wear a hard hat, eye goggles, chaps over your legs for protection, ear protection, steel toed boots and work gloves.

Identify the direction in which the palm tree leans. It will fall in this direction when it is cut; this is referred to as the "drop zone." Verify whether there is clearance for one to two feet of the tree to fall in the drop zone. Make sure the cut pieces of the tree do not get hung up on any other trees or objects.

Climb a ladder to access the top of the palm tree.

Tie 1/2-inch rope around the top of the tree trunk. Secure the other end of the rope to a standing tree or strong object in the general direction of the drop zone.

Climb down the ladder and move it out of the way. Find a place to cut the tree about 5 to 6 inches from the ground. The drop zone must be able to accommodate the height of the tree above the cut.

Cut a notch into the face of the trunk, which is the side that faces the drop zone. To create a notch, cut down into the trunk at a 45-degree angle. Stop when the notch reaches 1/3 of the tree's diameter. Then cut a straight, horizontal line into the trunk. This horizontal cut should met the first 45-degree angle cut. You should be able to pull a wedge-shaped piece out of the tree, leaving a 45-degree notch.

Cut the backside of the tree, opposite the side that is leaning. Start the back cut 2 inches higher than the corner of the notch created on the face of the tree. Don't cut all the way through the trunk; leave 1/10 of the tree's diameter uncut.

Power off the chainsaw and back away from the tree.

Tug at the rope to pull the cut piece into the drop zone if it is not falling on its own. Make sure no one is standing in the drop zone.

Allow 3 to 5 feet of the tree to remain. This is the stump.

Wrap one end of a strong tow chain around the tow bracket of a truck. Wrap the other end of the chain around the top of the remaining palm tree.

Drive the truck forward to pull the remaining stump out of the ground. You will probably need to pull forward and back several times before the stump is dislodged. Once out of the ground, discard the stump.