If you’re into gardening or lawn care, you'd know how important it is to prune trees.
From safety to healthy growth and aesthetics, the reasons can be many. However, it’s not always necessary to hire a professional for the job. As long as you have the right tool and a little patience, you can bring out the DIY enthusiast in you!
Now, there are a lot of models and brands of tree pruners to choose from. That said, the telescoping ones are potentially your best bet because they allow you to customize the pruning height without putting undue pressure on your back and limbs. And one such brand that has earned my confidence is Fiskars.
Such has been its utility that even my husband (who barely indulges in lawn care) takes over tree pruning quite frequently.
So, when my son bought one and asked me to help him with the steps, I wasted no time documenting them. Hi! I’m Stacy, and today, I bring you this guide on how to use Fiskars telescoping tree pruner with rope.
Let’s dive in!
How To Assemble The Fiskars Telescoping Tree Pruner?
If you’re a first-time user or don’t enjoy assembling tools, you’ll be happy to know that the Fiskars telescoping tree pruner comes practically assembled. All you have to do is attach the blade to the unit, which can be achieved in three simple steps.
Just remove the wing nut on the pruner, place the blade into the related slot and screw back the nut. I love the overall lightweight design, which makes it easier to control the pruner, especially while dealing with the branches located further away.
How To Extend The Tree Pruner?
Before I walk you through the pruning part, allow me to explain the telescoping mechanism on the Fiskar pruner. The model I opted for is slightly shorter than 8 feet and extends up to 16 feet when extended fully. For this, the pole has a couple of extenders and locks to achieve the desired height.
Start by unhinging the flip lock to loosen the pole from its compact form. Next, press the internal spring button lock (located on the top) of the section you want to extend. Once the pole is extended, you will see multiple holes that correspond to the reach.
Choose the one that best suits your requirements and release the upper button. Ensure that it makes the “click” sound, which means that the pole is set in position. Lastly, fasten the flip lock back to secure the extension.
How To Use The Pruner?
Although you may think that using a telescoping tree pruner with rope is a complicated affair, it’s actually pretty simple. First, place the hook end of the pruner over the branch that you wish to trim. For me, it was easier to grab the branch by “stabbing” it first with the saw head and then sliding the pruning hook on it.
Then, secure your grip around the plastic shaft and move a few steps back to create the necessary tension between the pruner and the hook. This will help create the required tension between the pruner and the branch to “rip off” the latter.
Now, if you’re using the pruner at its shortest length, you may notice that you have a lot of extra rope left. I’d strongly recommend wrapping this extra length around the plastic pull or your hands. You may also change the rope with a smaller one for better ease of use. But in doing so, make sure that you leave it loose enough to facilitate smooth pulling.
Likewise, there should be enough room to prevent the pulley system or drive chain from getting tangled. Otherwise, the pruner head may not function properly.
With everything set, pull the rope towards the ground to cut the branch in one quick, swift motion. I’d suggest backing away a few steps to prevent the falling branch from hitting you. Here, I should also mention that you should keep in mind the maximum length your pruner can handle (mine is designed to trim branches up to 1 ¼ inches long).
Besides, if the pruner head is not perpendicular to the branch, it may not maintain a firm grip as the thickness will increase at the wrong angle.
- Cut High or Low: Are you ready to cut into any task? This manual pole saw can be adjusted to various heights with its 8 poles, ranging from 7.3 to 27 ft (2.24 m to 8.24 m). It is designed for trimming high branches, but can also be used as a hand-held saw to prune lower branches, brushes, and logs.
- Double Lock Design: Our pole tree pruner features double-lock joints, which makes locking effortless and firm. Weighing in at 13 lbs (5.9 kg), this pole reduced weight by 10% can be used for extended periods without causing fatigue. You don't need to worry about the pole bending or breaking during use.
- Top-notch Blade: The tree pole saw blade is crafted from rust-proof and long-lasting 0.05" / 1.2 mm thick carbon steel with teflon coating. The blade features a hook knife on top, which can remove twigs when pulled back, and a hook knife on the bottom to remove stuck branches during cutting and trimming, ensuring efficiency.
Some More Tips
My experience with various lawn care tools over the years has taught me that mishaps are not unusual, no matter how expensive the tool is. That’s why I have listed below some important precautions to safeguard your tree pruning session to the best possible extent.
1. Wear Protective Clothing
Aside from a pair of sturdy work gloves (preferably leather because the rope will invariably bruise your palms), cover your hands and legs with a strong material like denim. At the same time, don’t forget to wear eye protection to prevent twigs or leaves from injuring your eyes. If you’re dealing with branches directly above your head, wear a hard cap or hat.
2. Use A Sharp Blade
A dull blade will require greater force while trimming, which can eventually cause the pruner or blade to come off. Hence, always keep an eye on the sharpness of your blade.
3. Take The Right Position
It’s better to stand as close to the tree as possible as this will allow better control over the entire process. Go about it slowly and don’t try to overreach or force the blade to make cuts. Long story short, prune the trees only when you can dedicate enough time for the purpose.
Conclusion
If not for telescoping tree pruners, tree maintenance would have made me rack my brain! So, get one if you haven’t already.
On that note, it’s time for me to wrap up today’s proceedings. I hope my efforts have helped you figure out the correct way of using your Fiskars (or similar) tree pruner. But if you’re a first-timer, practice pruning on the lower branches before aiming for the ones on top.
I’ll see you soon with more such content. Till then, happy gardening!