Tree pruning is one of the best ways to care for your trees. This is the process of removing dead, diseased, or damaged branches in a way that will improve the overall health of the tree. Tree pruning can also be used to maintain the proper size and shape of a tree.
Regular and proper pruning leads to multiple benefits for your tree including improved aesthetics and structure, mitigating safety hazards, and preventing the spread of disease.
Of course, in order to achieve this, you’ll need the right tools to prune trees.
There are a lot of different pruning tools out there and you can’t use the same tool on everything. In fact, some ornamental trees and shrubs will actually require highly selective hand pruning.
In this article, we will talk about some of the best tree pruning tools required for pruning.
These include:
We’ll also discuss some reasons why you might want to choose professional tree pruning instead of tackling this on your own.
What are the Tools to Prune Trees?
The right tools to cut tree branches can make all the difference in your results. The following are some of the essential tools that will be required for pruning.
1. Pruning Shears (also called Pruners, Clippers, or Secateurs)
These are probably the most popular tools for pruning shrubs, flowers, vines, and small tree growth. Pruning Shears are a handheld tool that can cut branches and twigs up to ¾ inches in thickness. There are three types of pruning shears: anvil, bypass, and ratchets.
- A bypass pruner acts like scissors and works very well for growing stems.
- Anvil pruners feature a straight blade that uses a splitting action. It is perfect for dry
branches and limbs. - Ratchet pruners are like anvil pruners, but they feature a mechanism that cuts the tree in stages. Ratchet pruners are ideal for those who don’t want to strain their wrists.
2. Loppers
A Looper can cut branches up to 2 ½ inches thick and is especially useful for pruning fruit trees, nut trees, and vines. This tool is similar to a pair of hand shears, but the blades are thicker, and the handle is much longer.
Loppers also come in the anvil, bypass, and ratchet styles.
However, anvil blades are more likely to crush new stems and branches instead of cutting them cleanly, which increases the chance of damaging the tree tissue. As with hand pruners, choose loppers with scissoring blades like bypass looper instead of anvil blades.
3. Pruning Saws
Pruning saws can cut branches between 2½ to 3 inches in diameter and are available in many styles. They have hard-pointed, heat-treated teeth and come in different sizes and shapes depending on your needs.
Some varieties include bow saw, fixed handle saw, folding handle saw, curved blade pruning saw, and straight blade pruning saw. Use a pruning saw that matches the task at hand to make the job easier.
4. Pole Pruner
A pole pruner, with its built-in saw blade, can remove the deadwood in a tree. It can cut through branches up to 1¼ inch in diameter. Most pole pruners can reach up to 8 feet in height, eliminating the need for a ladder in many cases.
5. Pole Saw
Older versions of pole saws had heavy wooden or fiberglass handles that flexed like fishing poles, making them difficult to control. In contrast, modern pole saws are quick-locking, lightweight, and rigid, often made of aluminum with oval or square cross-sections.
Several pole saws like electric and battery pole saws, manual pole saws, and gas pole saws are available in the market.
Why Consider Professional Tree Pruning
Now that you know some of the best tree pruning tools, you might be considering DIY tree pruning. But there are some good reasons why this might not be a good choice. Most people choose a DIY approach to try and save money. However, don’t forget you still have to invest in tools to prune trees, like the ones mentioned here.
Some other reasons why DIY pruning might not be the best choice include:
- Danger: Tree pruning can be dangerous work. We can’t emphasize this point enough. Every year there are homeowners who wind up in the emergency room or even die as a result of a tree accident. This is also why it’s important to hire a well-trained professional. One tree pruning tool that we did not mention on this list is a chainsaw. Anytime that you’re getting into needing to use power equipment, there is increased risk. This type of work is best left to a pro.
- Pruning mistakes: Pruning mistakes related to where you’re cutting or even when you’re cutting can be detrimental to the tree. There are certain times of the year when pruning trees is optimal. If you prune your trees at the wrong time of the year, you can actually cause problems for them. You could end up harming or even killing a tree if you make serious pruning errors. Any money you might have saved by performing this service yourself could be quickly lost.
- Hassles and headaches: You also have to keep in mind that your time is worth something. If you choose not to use professional tree pruning and try to do this service yourself, you’re going to have to use up precious time that you could be spending doing something you really enjoy. Tree pruning can also be arduous work. It’s not typically how most homeowners want to spend a free weekend.
- Pruning with the wrong tools: Pruning with the proper tools is critical to the success of this service. We’ve covered some of the best tree pruning tools here but you have to be cautious to choose the right tool for the right job. The condition of your tools also matters. For instance, pruning with dull blades can tear or rip the branch and lead to added stress or even disease or pest problems.
Your Wise Choice in Professional Tree Pruning
When you hire a professional tree pruning service, you’re taking an important step in protecting your investment in your property’s trees. There are a lot of New England Seacoast tree-pruning companies out there, so you’ll need to do your due diligence and choose a company that you trust.
Take some time to do research by looking at companies’ websites, reading reviews, and even talking to the company ahead of hiring them. Seek out companies that employ Certified Arborists and who take services like tree pruning seriously.
Tree work, like pruning, can be risky. That’s why it’s also important to hire a tree pruning company that is properly insured. It’s important that any company doing tree work on your property has adequate liability insurance so that you are not liable if an accident were ever to occur.
Your wise choice will go a long way in preserving your trees’ health and longevity.
At Seacoast Tree Care, serving Southern NH, Southern Maine, and Northeastern Massachusetts, we take the work that we do quite seriously. We started our business with the belief that we are here to care for and protect trees whenever we can. However, when they do have to come down, it’s absolutely critical that it’s done right.
We are committed to preserving trees in the New England Seacoast area by performing vital services like tree pruning, the right way.
Ready for safer and healthier trees at your Southern NH, Maine, or Northeastern Massachusetts home? Request your consultation and get a free quote for tree pruning services. We service properties in and around Stratham, NH, Kittery, ME, and Haverhill, MA. By making a wise choice, you’ll know your trees are in good hands.
Image Source: pruning shears, loppers, pruning saw, pole saw
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