Cut away any brush around the trunk and clear two escape routes on the “non-falling” side of the tree. They should be ... as soon as you’ve penetrated far enough to pound wedges behind ...

Don’t cut the trunk at an angle, or into a v-shape, which makes it far more difficult ... for overall tree health, cost, and hassle factors: You should keep your tree away from fireplaces ...

(Rinse and dry the saw before you put it away to prevent the alcohol from corroding the metal.) Here’s how to safely remove a tree branch ... on the far side from the trunk.