About Tree Trimming Equipment

When trees are part of your home's landscape, you must care for them using the right tools so they will stay healthy and beautiful. When you are deciding on what kind of tree trimming equipment to get, consider that there are many tools out there that can do the job, but some are essential while others are simply convenient. Review some typical tree trimming equipment to decide what you need to maintain your own trees.

Types

The three main pieces of tree trimming equipment you need are a pole tree pruner, a chain saw and a lopper. The pole trimmer allows you to stand safely on the ground and reach up to branches anywhere from 6 to 10 feet from the ground. Pole trimmers are ideal for working on small or medium sized trees. Some of the more popular brands of pole trimmers are Corona and Eagle. A chain saw is a necessary piece of equipment for medium to tall trees. Choose from gas or electric. Remington, Stihl and Echo are all top brands. A lopper is a more specialized tool that you can use either on the ground or in the tree. It is a heavy duty branch cutter that comes in various lengths.

Features

Besides the major tree trimming equipment, you'll need other gear to get the job done. If you are working with small or medium trees, you'll need a stepladder or large ladder. For medium to large trees, where you'll need to climb up into the branches, invest in a climbing harness, rope, carabeeners, flip lines and even rigging gear. This gear will give you safety and security as you move from branch to branch, so don't skimp on the cost or quality.

Function

Beyond the big pieces of equipment and tree climbing gear, you may need tools to do some of the fine work in tree trimming. The function of smaller pieces of tree trimming equipment such as hand pruners, mini loppers or landscaping shears is to remove newer growth and smaller branches. These are better for shaping the tree so it looks more aesthetically pleasing. These smaller types of pruning equipment allow you to pay more attention to detail than the large and unwieldy chain saws and pole tree trimmers. You can also use this smaller equipment to cut up branches once they are on the ground for easier disposal.

Considerations

Learn how to use the tree trimming equipment to do a good job on your trees. Never cut a limb too short or leave it too long. Instead, trim it as close to the branch collar as you can. This avoids opening up an entry point for insects and disease. Also, never top off a tree (blunt cut the top branches) and never cut back major branches. Both methods will severely damage the tree structure and it will cause new growth from those areas to be thin and vulnerable.

Expert Insight

Tree trimming professionals will also recommend that an essential piece of tree trimming equipment is a good pair of climbing boots. These boots help you get a grip on the ladder, branch or trunk you are standing on and will also protect your feet from saws, chain saws and falling branches. Wear long sleeves and long pants to protect your arms legs from being scraped or torn when climbing the tree.