How to Select Right Tree Branch Pruning Tools

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When it comes to pruning, there are a handful of tools to pick and work with. But not all branches of your garden trees are ready to be pruned off by just a random tool.

As long as you are serious about pruning your garden trees in a right way, we bet you are interested to know how to select the right tree branch pruning tools. And that’s what this story is about. Do you have a few minutes to check the whole guide?

As there are a number of options of pruning tools, we should not set our viewpoints on tools and their functions. Rather, it would be better to understand based on tree branch sizes, and talk about pruning tools for each size variations. That being said, let’s proceed!

For Pruning 1” Thick Branches: Bypass Hand Pruners

Let’s start with a basic pruners, namely the bypass type hand pruner. With a cutting capacity of branches that has a diameter of about one inch or less, you can make pretty much clean cut on small-sized tree branches, and make your tree or bush look tidier.

In a bypass pruner, there is a pair of scissors and a cutting blade on the top of the scissor that is slightly curved. The curve cutting blade has to slide over the lower and a bit broaden blade to make the cut happen.

For Pruning 2” Thick Branches: Lopper

When it comes to pruning thicker tree branches that you can’t prune with hand pruners, you might need to call best loppers . Loppers are also called lopping shears, because of the cutting nature and its similarity to shears. The cutting technique is still a ‘bypass’ kind of action and now it leaves almost no plant tissues damaged.

Usually, loppers can cut branches of 2 inches in diameter. In case the wood is quite hard to go with pruning directly, you can go for a modified version of it. In those modifier loppers, there is a gear system attached that increases the cutting power.

For Pruning 3-4” Thick Branches: Pruning Saw

For 3-4 inches thick branches, there is the pruning saw. There is a small saw where blades are tempered by high-end metal. As a saw is not run by hand power, you need not put manual effort, unlike tools discussed earlier.

However, you have to be ultra-precise about cutting operation, as you might need to learn how to operate a pruning saw perfectly. Another major benefit is that a pruning saw needs less frequent sharpening than hand tools.

For Pruning 5” Thick Branches: Chainsaw

When the diameter of the branch reaches 5 inches or higher, the previously mentioned tools might not work. That’s when you need a chainsaw. Chainsaws actually have a diverse range of uses, and pruning branches is one of them.

But you are seriously advised to know it’s operating techniques and safety factors before you get to work with them. A small malfunction can lead to severe accident and injuries.

For Pruning 6” Distant Tree Branches: Pole Pruners

We just bought another concern about tree branches, distance from the ground. When it’s about pruning distant tree branches, things get bit complicated. As you cannot use ladders every time to reach high tree branches, pole pruners come in use.

Usually, there is a pole with adjustable height in these pruners, and on top a small, portable chainsaw is attached. If branches are 2 inches long, you can go for adding up a bypass style pruner on top of the pole. However, to change the cutting tools on a pole, make sure the pole has inter changing facility.

Bottom Line

As you have seen so far, as long as it is about selecting the right tool for pruning, there are many factors to consider. The first is, how thick and hard the tree branch is, and next is its distance from ground.

For both factors, you will be given a number of pruning tool options. And hopefully, you have already shortlisted the preferred pruning tools.