Most homeowners think that tree pruners are for professionals, but that’s only until they become gardeners!
Be it for grooming or health purposes; there’s no denying that pruning is a crucial part of the plant development process. And with the right tool and technique, you don’t have to rely on professional services every time your trees need a trim.
Having spent so much time looking after my garden, I learned that not every pruner will fit all your needs. As your plants grow, so will their pruning needs, and that will likely require you to have different pruning tools.
Sure, there are many options in the market, but choosing the right one is fairly simple, provided you know how to use them. That’s why when my friend approached me to help her pick a pruner, I seized the opportunity to document everything about tree pruners and share it with my readers.
So, if you’re having trouble choosing one or are looking for an upgrade, then welcome home! Hi, I’m Stacy, and today, I have curated this guide on how to use a tree pruner.
Let’s start!
Perhaps, pruning shears or hand-held cutters are among the most common pruning tools available in every homeowner’s arsenal. These tools essentially look like pliers, so all you have to do is cut the branches by applying force on the handles.
Furthermore, there are three main types of pruning shears, namely, anvil-action, bypass, and ratchet. While anvil-action pruners are equipped with flat, sharp blades that work like a scissor, bypass pruners have curved blades and are used much like you’d use a knife to chop vegetables on a board.
Although anvil-action shears offer clean-cutting, they are somewhat less precise and more suitable for trimming dead branches rather than the live ones. Lastly, ratchet pruners employ a “latch and squeeze” mechanism, where you can cut the branch in successive steps. It’s an ideal tool for users who don’t have a lot of energy in their wrist, especially for dealing with thicker branches.
That said, it’s important to note that none of these are designed to cut branches more than ½-inch thick. In hindsight, pruning shears can be used to cut twigs, offshoots, thin branches, or diseased leaves, and for fine trimming and grooming of manicured hedges or shrubs.
If you have seen both a pruning shear and looper, you’d know that the latter is practically nothing but a bigger variant of shears. While the pruning head looks similar, the handles are large enough to be held with both hands.
In fact, the length of the handles is what provides these tools with high leverage without putting too much strain on your hands. You can easily cut any branch that fits between the open blades, typically up to 1-inch in diameter or slightly more. Interestingly, loopers are also available in bypass and anvil-action designs, meaning that they function pretty much the same way as their pruning shear counterparts.
Since anvil-action loppers are better for trimming thick, dead wood, you don’t really have a lot to think about, apart from positioning the blade at the right spot.
But for bypass loopers, you’d want to start by aligning the blade at the spot from where you’d perform the cut. Owing to its curved blade design, it will go around the side of the branch. As a result, the hold of the blade may shift by around ¼ inches when you flip the handles to make the cut.
Once the blade is aligned, extend the handles completely to ensure that the branch sits deep into the blade. This is a crucial step in the process as a lesser firm hold will require more force to tire your hands and dull the blade. Finally, close the handles in one swift motion to complete the cut.
If the branch is too thick for the blade, the looper may fail to snap in at one go. In that case, you may need to repeat the process one more time.
Undoubtedly, pole pruners are the most popular category for professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike. As the name suggests, these pruners are attached to a pole, which can be either telescoping or standalone. In case of the former, you will have to extend the pole to reach the desired height (depending on the maximum extension of the model you have opted for).
Likewise, standalone pole pruners can serve the same purpose once you attach the different pole segments to extend the overall height. Here, I should mention that the base pole is usually between 5 and 8 inches long. So, you will need to set up the pruner accordingly before use.
To cut the branches, stand a few feet away from the direction at which the branch will fall after trimming. Remember that standing directly under the tree will increase your chances of getting injured by the falling branch. If the branch is too big, I’d suggest tying it to the tree beforehand.
The next step is to grab the branch with the rope-operated pruner (which is what most pole pruners offer) and ensure that there’s enough space to prevent the pulley system from tangling. Then, pull the rope in one swift motion to get the job done.
One thing to note is that if you’re using the pole in the lower height settings, you may be left with excess rope at the bottom. So, I’d advise wrapping it around the handle or your hands.
On the other hand, if the branch is too thick for the pruner, a serrated saw will come in handy to cut it off with steady back and forth motions. The good news is that most pole pruners already come with this attachment, so that’s a job half done!
With that, it’s time for me to wrap up today’s guide.
I hope that I could resolve all your queries regarding the types and usage of different tree pruners. But before I finally take your leave, here’s one precautionary advice: always wear adequate safety accessories like goggles, gloves, and head protection, and cover your limbs with a rigid material like denim.
I’ll see you soon with more such content. Till then, take care!
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