If you want to cut branches high off the ground, you have three main options:
- Climb up in the tree or stand on a ladder with a chainsaw or hand pruners.
- Use a pole saw or pole pruners.
- Hire a professional to cut the branches for you
The first option is dangerous if you’re not trained for handling in-tree cutting equipment. The last thing you want to do is get up into the tree or on the ladder with a powerful cutting tool and lose your balance. Unless you have training and safety equipment, this isn’t an option we’d advise.
Pole pruners and pole saws offer a safer option for homeowners than trying to operate a chainsaw in-tree or while standing on a ladder. However, there are still safety concerns. If you want to tackle cutting high-up limbs yourself instead of hiring a professional, then there are a few things you should know about using a pole pruner or saw. We’ll cover them in this article.
Finally, there are situations where it’s a good idea to hire a professional. If the tree is near power lines or buildings, if the limbs are too high up for your to reach from the ground, or there are other circumstances that make cutting difficult it’s best to hire someone with training and experience. For the more straight-forward cutting jobs, though, here’s when and how to use a pole pruner or saw.
What Gear To Wear
Before you cut any branches, make sure you’ve taken steps to keep yourself safe. Important safety gear for cutting with a pole pruner or pole saw include eye goggles, a hard hat, gloves, and work boots. It’s also a good idea to use hearing protection and wear snug-fitting clothes that won’t get snagged in the equipment or on branches.
The eye goggles keep any sawdust or falling debris from getting in your eyes. A hard hat helps protect you in case anything falling from the tree hits you. Gloves protect your hands and give you a better grip on the cutting tool. Work boots or shoes with good grip on the soles help give you the solid footing you need when cutting limbs high overhead.
Which Branches To Cut
Pole saws and pruners work best on limbs that are growing horizontal. With branches like this, it’s pretty easy to cut them while standing securely on the ground.
Branches growing vertically are harder to get a good angle on with long-handled cutting tools. If you’re trying to cut a branch growing straight up and down with a pole pruner, you’ll find it more challenging to get a clean cut. In fact, these cuts can be so challenging that you might find it’s best to hire a professional.
When you’re choosing which branches to cut, make sure that you stay well clear of power lines and any other electrical equipment. You do not want to risk electrocuting yourself or damaging power lines when you drop a limb. If you need to remove a branch near power lines, you should hire a professional arborist.
Where To Stand
Where you stand while cutting is important for two main reasons. First, you want to make sure you won’t drop the limb that you’re cutting on yourself. Second, you want to give yourself a good angle to make a clean cut.
The place you choose to stand should let you keep the pole pruner at an angle smaller than 60 degrees from horizontal. That helps keep you safe and gives you a good cutting angle. If you can’t reach the branch without standing directly underneath it, then you shouldn’t be using a pole saw to cut that branch. It’s just not worth the risk of injuring yourself.
Make sure that no one else is standing in the area where the branch could fall after it’s cut. Before cutting, put up some kind of barrier or outline that lets other people know they shouldn’t come too close. Be extra careful to keep children and pets far away from your work area. And remember to give yourself plenty of extra space because it’s often hard to predict exactly where the branch will fall.
How To Cut
Stand in a stable, firm position with feet apart to help you keep your balance. Bend your knees a little to keep you grounded. Do not lift your arms up over your head when using the pole saw. You’ll have a lot more control if you keep your arms near waist level.
To reduce the danger from falling debris, you’ll need to cut each branch in stages. Use several preliminary cuts to remove outer pieces of the branch and reduce its weight. If the branches you’re cutting are small, then you can cut from the top-down by bringing the saw up to full power and then holding the chain against the wood with light, steady pressure until you’ve completed the cut.
For thicker part of the branch, make a jump cut by sawing up from the bottom of the branch about a quarter of the way through. Then make your final cut from the top of the branch. This will help you control how the branch falls.
What Type of Pole Cutter
You can use the terms “pole pruner” and “pole saw” interchangeably. These names may refer to non-powered equipment, such as Corona’s tree saws, or powered equipment, such as Stihl and Echo’s pole pruners.
Hand-operated pruners require more effort to use, but they’re typically lighter weight than the powered pole saws. The powered saws have a definite advantage in speed and cutting power, though. We carry both styles at Richardson Saw & Lawnmower, so you can come in and see which you like best.
