Tree trimming starts with quality cutting tools. As long as you have the proper tools for the job, you can quickly promote tree growth and health. But what are the right tools you need to trim a tree?
Trimming trees regularly is a must, but it doesn’t have to feel like a chore. You can still have fun with it and successfully DIY with the help of these tree-trimming tools. In this article, we’ll cover:
First and foremost, safety goggles are required to keep your eyes safe from splinters, debris, and sharp branches. It’s very easy to walk right into a small branch if you’re not paying attention. Also, if you are using a chainsaw, it shoots bits of tree and sawdust right into your face, which could scratch your eyes.
A pair of tough gloves help protect your hands from blisters, scratches, and cuts when trimming trees. For serious trimming, you should invest in a pair of leather gloves for long-lasting protection.
Trimming tree branches is an important part of tree care and maintenance. Using the right tools allows you to make clean, accurate cuts that promote the health of trees. I’ll explain the key tools for trimming branches, when each one is useful, and tips for proper use.
Hand Pruners
Hand pruners also called pruning shears or secateurs are an essential everyday pruning tool. They have short blades and handles that let you make precise cuts on stems up to 3/4″ diameter.
The two main types are bypass pruners and anvil pruners
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Bypass pruners have a scissors-like action with curved blades that glide past each other. They make very clean cuts on living stems.
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Anvil pruners have a straight blade that cuts against a small anvil or plate. They’re better for dry or dead wood.
To avoid tearing branches, position hand pruners upside down and cut upwards rather than downwards. This engages the deepest part of the blades for maximum leverage.
Loppers
Loppers, or lopping shears, are like super-sized hand pruners. They have long handles and large cutting blades to tackle branches up to 1.5″ diameter. The added leverage makes cutting thicker stems easy.
Loppers come in bypass and anvil styles. Bypass loppers are better for living wood since they reduce crushing damage. Some loppers have ratchet mechanisms to cut thick branches in stages.
Pruning Saws
When branch diameter exceeds 1.5-2″, it’s time to switch from loppers to a pruning saw. These saws have coarse teeth that quickly cut through wood up to 6″ thick.
Bow saws have metal frames and straight blades ideal for flush cuts near the trunk. Japanese pull saws have curved blades that easily access tight branch crotches. Folding saws provide safety and portability.
Pole Pruners
Pole pruners allow you to reach high branches from the ground. They have lopper-style cutters on an extendable pole that can trim branches up to 1.25″ thick. Many also have a small curved saw for thicker wood.
While convenient, positioning the cutter at the right angle takes practice. Safety gear like goggles and helmets are a must to avoid injuries from falling debris.
Pole Saws
For larger branches, pole saws have all the reach of pole pruners but with a chainsaw-style bar. They quickly cut branches up to 6″ in diameter and are available in manual, electric, and gas models.
Compared to old-fashioned rigid pole saws, newer versions have lightweight aluminum poles that lock rigidly in place for better control.
Chainsaws
A chainsaw is the fastest way to remove large branches or entire trees, but it requires experience and safety precautions. For pruning cuts, pole saws and handsaws allow more precision.
Cordless electric chainsaws provide portability for smaller jobs. Gas-powered models pack more power but need heavy-duty protective clothing. Chainsaws should only be used by qualified professionals.
When to Call a Professional
While DIY pruning with the right tools can keep trees tidy, professional arborists have the skills, equipment, and experience for large-scale pruning and safety situations. Consider hiring a professional when:
- Branches are near power lines or roofs.
- Trees are over 15 feet tall.
- Chainsaws or climbing is required.
- You lack proper safety gear and training.
- Trees have disease signs like fungal growths.
- You feel unsure about any aspect of the job.
Professionals get the work done efficiently without injuries or damage to your trees. Pruning is an investment in your landscape’s health and beauty for years to come.
Wagon, Wheelbarrow, or Wood Chipper
Tree trimming produces a lot of debris, and you’ll want to dispose of all the cut branches. You can pile them on a wagon or wheelbarrow and haul them to the dump, or you can rent a wood chipper to grind the branches into wood chips, which can then be used as mulch.
Using the right tools makes tree trimming safe, easy, and efficient. Not only that, but keeping your tools well-maintained and sharp not only improves their performance and durability, but keeps you safe from potential injuries during use and makes trees healthier by making good cuts.
Having the right tools means nothing if they aren’t working properly. Not only can tree sap gum up your tools, but it can help diseases spread from tree to tree, since pruning cuts create entry points for bacteria and fungi.
Clean: Wipe down the blades with a rag between uses, and if you’ve been pruning diseased branches, sanitize the blade with alcohol before moving on to the next tree. Remove sticky sap by wiping blades with a rag dipped in turpentine or mineral spirits.
Disinfect: Submerge the blades for 1-2 minutes in rubbing alcohol, then clean your tools with soap and water and dry them thoroughly.
Rust-proof: You can rub the blades with oil to prevent rust and keep the tools operating smoothly.
Sharpen: Keeping tool blades sharp is also very important to produce the best cuts on the tree and reduce the workload on you. Use a sharpening stone or device to hone the cutting edges of hand pruners, loppers, and pole pruners. Dull pruning saws, rope saws, and chainsaws should be professionally sharpened, or the blade replaced.
Remove the dirt and sap with a wire brush or steel wool. Inexpensive sanitizers you can use to wash tools are bleach, 70-100% isopropyl alcohol, Lysol, and pine sol. Pruners, loppers, and shears are all sharpened by holding the tool firmly, then passing the sharpener over the edge of the blade.
Wearing gloves will help prevent blistering, so long as you keep your hands dry. Reinforce your hands with talcum powder, or adhere a soft bandage to spots that are prone to blistering. If you start to feel a stinging sensation or notice an area of your hand is turning red, you should take a break, and dry off.
Well-used but well-maintained tools should only need sharpening every six weeks. For homeowners who don’t prune very often, sharpening once a year is enough.
Jacket or Long-Sleeved Shirt
Wearing a long-sleeved shirt or jacket can help protect your arms from cuts and scrapes while maneuvering around overgrown tree branches. This also will protect you from getting bitten by mosquitoes and other unpleasant pests in your yard.
Loppers work like hand shears but have longer handles and blades to cut through branches up to 3 inches in diameter. You need both hands to work the handles, which are about 2 to 3 feet long. This extra length helps trim branches above your head or in awkward spots, so look for loppers that telescope to extend your reach. The lopper label should specify the branch size it will cut.
Loppers are easy to maneuver in cramped spaces and take care of trimming projects without the need for a saw. Loppers also come in anvil, bypass, and ratchet styles. Bypass blades yield a cleaner cut, and some lopper designs include a gear-like feature that increases cutting power.
Choosing the right saw depends on the job.
- Rope Saw: A rope saw has a chain-type cutting blade and is used for cutting branches 5 inches in diameter. Rope saws allow you to cut limbs up to 25 feet high while standing on the ground. Adding extension ropes will increase the reach of your rope saw.
- Pruning Saw: Whether you’re standing on the ground or aloft, hand saws help tackle branches up to 3 inches thick, although you can use them to cut slightly larger branches with more effort. Their blades are tempered metal and remain sharp for several uses. Unlike other saws, pruning saws cut on the push stroke, the pull stroke, or both, so that every movement produces a cut. Pruning saws can be electric, or battery-powered.
- Chainsaw: When dealing with limbs thicker than 5 inches, a chainsaw provides the cleanest cut. Most chainsaws have gas-powered engines though smaller chainsaws can be electric, battery-powered, or cordless which are much quieter and vibrate less than gas-powered chainsaws. To determine what size chainsaw you need, add 2 inches to the thickest branch or limb you need to cut. If you have a 6-inch limb, you’ll need an 8-inch chainsaw.
Pro tip: When using a chainsaw, wearing closed-toe shoes and hearing protection like headphones or foam earbuds is a must.
Pruning shears, also known as hand pruners or pruners, cut through branches between 1 to 2 inches thick and are the most basic starter tool for tree trimming. Smaller pruning shears fit in the palm of your hand, so they’re much easier to handle when trimming tiny tree branches, root suckers, and seedling trees growing in unsuitable locations.
Bypass hand shears work like traditional scissors, with one blade bypassing a blunt side to slice the branch off the tree in one clean cut, allowing the tree to heal faster. Anvil shears have one straight blade that closes onto a flat edge but will sometimes crush the branch so that it has difficulty healing, which is why they should only be used on hard, dead wood.
When cutting branches with a diameter of 1 inch or less, you should use hand pruners. Bypass pruners cut like a pair of scissors with a curved cutting blade that slides past a lower broad blade and creates the cleanest cuts.
Pole pruners average about 8 feet long and are handy for reaching 2- to 3-inch-thick branches that are beyond your reach. The pruning blades are at the top of the pole, and a thin rope runs the length of the pole, which you pull to cut the branch.
You can purchase telescoping pole pruners or connect multiple pole pruners to reach as high as 30 feet. You also can use a grab pole to methodically lower the branch to the ground. For the cleanest, healthiest cuts, choose a bypass-style pruner. For versatility in tackling larger branches, purchase a pole pruner that comes with interchangeable attachments that convert them into pole saws and bypass pruners. Electric pole pruners are also available.
6 Tools for Pruning
FAQ
What is the best tool for trimming tree branches?
- Pruning Shears: – Best For: Small branches (up to 3⁄4 inch thick).
- Loppers: – Best For: Medium branches (up to 2 inches thick).
- Hand Saw: – Best For: Larger branches (up to 4 inches thick).
- Pole Saw: – Best For: High branches (up to 10 feet or more).
- Chainsaw:
- Reciprocating Saw:
How much do tree trimmers charge per hour?
The labor cost for tree trimming ranges from $35 to $70 per hour per person. On average, labor costs for tree trimming are $55 per hour.Sep 20, 2024
What tool is used to cut branches?
- Pruning shears. Pruning shears are used to cut thinner (less than 2,6 cm in diameter) branches from shrubs and trees. …
- Loppers. …
- Hedge shears. …
- Tree pruners. …
- Gardening scissors and snips.