Can I Just Pull That Fallen Tree Out With the Tractor?

WORKSAFE’S GUIDANCE IS CLEAR

For farm forestry work, WorkSafe’s tractor guidance says not to use wheeled tractors for directly pulling trees.

That’s important because a tractor is extremely good at producing force.

What it can’t tell you is how a damaged tree will react when that force is applied.

The tree may still be connected to:

• Partially attached roots
• Neighbouring trees
• Hanging branches
• Fencing
• Tangled shelterbelt material
• Other fallen trees

Start moving one part and several other things can move with it.

A FALLEN TREE CAN STILL BE UNDER HUGE PRESSURE

Just because a tree is lying on the ground doesn’t mean all the energy inside it has disappeared.

Bent branches, twisted stems and partly uprooted trees can still be carrying enormous forces.

When that tension or compression is released, the tree can:

• Roll
• Rotate
• Spring sideways
• Split further
• Pull another tree or branch with it
• Move much faster than expected

That’s one of the reasons storm-damaged tree work is very different from simply shifting an ordinary log.

WATCH THE ROOT PLATE

Partly uprooted trees deserve particular caution.

A large root plate can weigh tonnes and may still be carrying some of the load of the tree.

If the trunk is cut or moved, the root plate can:

• Drop back towards its original position
• Rotate unexpectedly
• Shift sideways
• Break free altogether

That means the area around the roots and base of the tree needs to be treated as part of the hazard zone.

It isn’t somewhere you want people standing while the tree is being moved.

LOOK UP BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING

One of the easiest mistakes is concentrating completely on the tree lying on the ground.

Before anything moves, look above it as well.

There may be:

• Dead branches caught overhead
• Broken limbs sitting in another tree
• Another tree leaning into the damaged one
• Split stems that haven’t fallen yet
• Large branches being supported by another part of the canopy

WorkSafe warns that movement of a tree can cause dead limbs to fall unexpectedly.

That means moving the trunk can create a hazard somewhere completely different from where you are looking.

THINK ABOUT EVERYTHING AROUND THE TREE

Once a large tree starts moving, controlling exactly where every part of it goes can become difficult.

Before tree work starts, think about what is around the work area:

• Fences
• Sheds and buildings
• Vehicles and machinery
• Farm tracks and gateways
• Stock
• Workers and family members
• Neighbouring trees
• Powerlines

One uncontrolled movement can turn one tree problem into several.

WHAT ABOUT A WINCH OR OTHER MACHINERY?

Professional tree and forestry work can involve winches and machinery to help control trees.

But that doesn’t mean swapping a chain for a winch suddenly makes a difficult tree safe.

WorkSafe’s forestry guidance treats machine-assisted tree work as a planned operation involving competent people, suitable machinery and equipment, adequate capacity and controlled working positions.

In other words, this isn’t simply a matter of attaching something stronger and pulling harder.

The tree, terrain, equipment, forces involved and surrounding hazards all need to be understood before work starts.

WHEN SHOULD YOU KEEP PEOPLE AWAY AND CALL SOMEONE?

If the tree is storm-damaged, partly uprooted, hung up, split or under tension, don’t try to solve the problem by directly pulling it with a wheeled tractor.

Keep people and stock clear, particularly if the tree is:

• Partly uprooted
• Hung up in another tree
• Twisted or split
• Supporting another tree
• Holding large broken branches overhead
• Near buildings, roads or farm tracks
• Near powerlines
• Likely to move unpredictably

If it can’t be dealt with safely, isolate the area and get somebody with the appropriate tree-work skills and equipment involved.

DON’T TURN A CLEAN-UP JOB INTO AN EMERGENCY

After a storm, everyone wants access cleared, fences repaired and the farm operating normally again.

That pressure is exactly when shortcuts can become tempting.

WorkSafe’s 2026 warning about storm-damaged trees specifically highlighted reports involving tractors being used to pull damaged trees.

Its advice is straightforward: where dangerous tree work can’t be carried out safely, isolate the area and wait for somebody with the appropriate skills and equipment.

Sometimes fencing off the area and dealing with the tree properly tomorrow is a much better option than trying to solve it immediately.

THE TRACTOR ISN’T THE SOLUTION TO EVERY TREE PROBLEM

Having a powerful tractor doesn’t make a damaged tree predictable.

WorkSafe’s guidance is clear that wheeled tractors should not be used to directly pull trees.

With storm-damaged trees, the bigger issue is understanding where the weight and tension are, what else is connected to the tree and what could move when the situation changes.

If you’re looking at it and thinking, “I’m not quite sure what that’s going to do,” don’t experiment.

Kirkwood NZ deals with storm-damaged trees, difficult removals, shelterbelts and rural vegetation management throughout South Auckland.

Read more about our vegetation management services, tree removal services, or our guide to storm-damaged trees on farms.