Find out which tree pruning tools you should use for everything from light trimming to cutting off large branches.
Wiggling the pruners back and forth trying to complete the too-big cut can throw the blades out of whack.
Besides damaging the pruners, the resulting ragged-edge stems look unsightly and will have trouble sealing properly.
Credit:Marty Baldwin
Hand Pruners
Hand pruners, or pruning shears, are practically a necessity for home gardeners.
Theyre useful for everything fromdeadheading spent bloomsto removing twiggy undergrowth.
The two primary types of hand pruners are anvil and bypass.
Anvil pruners have a straight blade that closes against a backstop, or small anvil.
This makes them perfect for pruning living stems.
However, anvil pruners can tear or crush plant tissues, so theyre better suited to pruning dead stems.
Both styles of hand pruners typically can cut stems up to 3/4 inches in diameter.
Loppers
Thicker branches require something larger than hand pruners.
Loppers come in a wide variety of sizes and types, including anvil and bypass.
Some offer ratchet action to cut large stems in incremental bites.
Loppers can easily handle branches 34-112 inches thick, depending on species (e.g.
a softwood tree like willow is easier to cut than a hardwood tree like oak).
Others come with telescoping handles that extend your reach.
Pruning Saws
Pruning saws bridge the gap between loppers and chainsaws.
Some Japanese pruning saws are rigid, others fold up for easy transport and greater safety.
Most feature sturdy blades with a razor-tooth design that easily cuts through branches up to 4 inches in diameter.
Chainsaw
When it comes tocutting down trees, a chainsaw cant be beat.
For general pruning, however, a pruning saw is preferable because its easier to make more precise cuts.
In that case, a cordless battery-operated unit with a 14- or 16-inch bar is a great help.
Pole Pruner
With a pole pruner, you might reach into atrees canopy to prunewithout a ladder.
It makes fast work of branches too thick for a pole pruner or its attached saw blade.
