Before you tackle pruning as a DIY job, you must first take your personal safety into consideration. Next, think about how to do the job effectively. Before you start, take a moment to think about the tools and equipment that you are going to need.
Start Every Pruning Job With The Right PPE
You don’t want to end your job with a sunburn, blisters, or worse, a serious injury. It’s more than worth the time and investment to purchase gloves, protective goggles, a hat, even some rugged clothing to protect yourself from limbs and sharp edges. Boots are a must for falling branches, and to protect your feet from saw blades and pruning shears. Are you working in hot weather? Keep cold water on hand.
Tools For Doing The Pruning
A professional arborist will have a large selection of tools to use for every possible job. You won’t need all of these for a home project. However, it’s good to know what each tool can do:
· Secateurs: A scissor like tool that can be used with one hand. Capable of cutting branches up to 20 mm around. Smaller twigs and branches can be snipped with good quality scissors.
· Handsaw: Pruning saws and bow saws are used to cut branches that are 50 mm or larger. Chainsaws are generally recommended for professional use only.
· Pruning Knife: A specialized knife used to bevel and even out pruning cuts.
· Hedge Shears: For trimming and pruning hedges and bushes. Works on branches up to 1 cm in diameter. Available as straight or serrated models
· Long Handled Pruners: Used on branches up to 40 mm. These provide extra leverage due to the long handles. They are also useful for reaching branches in high or tight spaces.
· Aerial Pruners: Used for cutting high branches. These are challenging to use. Leave to a professional, or be cautious of overhanging cables and power lines.
Should You Buy Pruning Tools?
That depends. If you buy the tools for a very specialized job, they may sit unused in your shed for years after. On the other hand, handsaws are multifunctional tools. You will likely use secateurs and long handled pruners for small landscaping projects in the future. Ultimately, you should consider your likelihood of using these tools on a regular basis. Then, determine if you should buy, rent, borrow, or just search for a tree and shrub pruning service near me to hire a qualified arborist.
Caring For Your Tools And Keeping Them Sharp
Just like a chefs knife, pruning tools are safest when they are clean and sharp. Clean your tools after each use. Oil them as needed. Inspect tools for signs of wear, loose screws and bolts, and other damage. Store tools safely in a dry environment. Avoid leaving them outside, even overnight.
You can choose to sharpen your tools yourself. In that case, you will need a special oil, sharpening stones, and wood or leather to de-bur. This can be a challenging skill to learn. Be prepared to practice a bit. You can use a sheet of paper to test the sharpness of each blade. Keep in mind that there is some equipment that should be given to a professional for sharpening. Anything with teeth and saws, are difficult to for a novice to sharpen correctly.
Final Thoughts: Safety And Preparation Are Key
There are many pruning jobs that you can probably tackle with no problem at all. Just assess the job realistically, keep safety in mind, and ensure you have the right equipment. Most importantly, don’t get in over your head. No injury or damage to property is worth taking on a job that is too much for you.
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