Anybody have any expertise in trimming back trees. I have good amount of trees, where leaves pine cones fall all over driveway, pool etc.
Had two tree companies come out, one wanted $4500 and another wanted $3900.
Obviously I am not a tree professional, but is there thigns I can do to trim them, without spending that much?
I watched this tree video, but I am not sure that won't take me a whole year to do, at that pace...
Go to harbor freight, buy pole saw, start trimming.
Patrick said:Go to harbor freight, buy pole saw, start trimming.
Thanks! Never heard of a pole saw, will go tomorrow
I use Fiskars brand pole saw and long reach pruner. Their stuff seems to hold up well and has a lifetime warranty.
Stay within your comfort zone and wear eye protection. If it feels unsafe, stop and back up. Keep trees 6’ off your house if possible.
Agree with the pole saw recommendation. I picked up a Kobalt electric pole saw a couple of years ago and it's been wonderful.
Gone are the days of doing the limbo under low branches when mowing the grass on my tractor. It's a bit sketchy standing on the roof of your truck, wielding a 10' (or maybe 8', but who's counting
) stick with a chainsaw on the end, but that's what safety glasses are for.
The “pole trimmer” attachment for the weedwackers may be good for you. They are about 100$ or so for the one at lowes that i have. Its super handy. Just for giggles i used it to cut down and cut up 2 pine trees. Works wonderful.
The HF pole saw is great. Make sure you get the chain lube too. And a bike helmet in addition to glasses won't hurt. Place the saw blade on the limb, pull the trigger and down it goes! Not totally safe but I was on a ladder to get extra height on some branches.
RELEVANT: We have the Ryobi pole saw and use it constantly. I just cut down several hundred pounds worth of branches this weekend.
DO: READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS/recommendations.
Once you cut a small branch/limb, the temptation to go for that big 100lb branch that’s been pissing you off and is *JUST* within reach will be strong. I strongly recommend doing smaller sections instead.
DON’T: Get the thing directly over your head to get that extra couple inches of height. And don’t use a ladder if possible. I was hell-bent on “getting it done” this weekend. Went for that “one last motherberkeleyer” from the top of the ladder. The saw got a little too “vertical,” and I threw it behind me just in time to jump off the ladder vs. falling off it, and it’s a miracle I didn’t break my damned neck.
Also: Have a plan for the debris. My burn pile has gotten outta control, so I’m paying a guy to come haul off this last batch. Cheaper than hiring the pros to do the trimming, but still “not cheap.”
poopshovel again said:DON’T: Get the thing directly over your head to get that extra couple inches of height. And don’t use a ladder if possible. I was hell-bent on “getting it done” this weekend. Went for that “one last motherberkeleyer” from the top of the ladder. The saw got a little too “vertical,” and I threw it behind me just in time to jump off the ladder vs. falling off it, and it’s a miracle I didn’t break my damned neck.
Also: Have a plan for the debris. My burn pile has gotten outta control
We had alarmingly similar weekends.
If a chainsaw is dangerous, a chainsaw on a stick is more dangerous. Useful, but dangerous. Getting relatively low-hanging limbs away from buildings is probably do-able by the average Joe. Taking a large limb off a 90-foot tree overhanging your house is probably a job for the pros.
Disclaimer: I may or may not have spent some time this weekend on an extension ladder braced against a tree with a chainsaw in my hands. I still have all my appendages. You keep yours as well.
In reply to STM317 :
Did you also take a riding lawn mower down an overgrown hill that was WAAAY too steep for it to handle having no clue what was under said overgrowth? 
I started to do a 3rd dumb thing but figured my luck was running out.
In reply to 1988RedT2 :
I’m more scared of the branches than the chain.
poopshovel again said:In reply to 1988RedT2 :
I’m more scared of the branches than the chain.
Agree.
Your advice about directly overhead is good.
Accurately determine the likely path of anything you cut above you as it falls.
If you brace a ladder against a branch, do not cut that branch! 
KyAllroad (Jeremy) said:I use Fiskars brand pole saw and long reach pruner. Their stuff seems to hold up well and has a lifetime warranty.
Stay within your comfort zone and wear eye protection. If it feels unsafe, stop and back up. Keep trees 6’ off your house if possible.
Appreciate it. Will head to the hardware stores in 2 hours and hopefully come back with something worthwhile
TJL said:The “pole trimmer” attachment for the weedwackers may be good for you. They are about 100$ or so for the one at lowes that i have. Its super handy. Just for giggles i used it to cut down and cut up 2 pine trees. Works wonderful.
Hmmmm, so decisions will be pole saw vs weedwacker with attachment?
I have motorcyle helmet and glasses
poopshovel again said:RELEVANT: We have the Ryobi pole saw and use it constantly. I just cut down several hundred pounds worth of branches this weekend.
DO: READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS/recommendations.
Once you cut a small branch/limb, the temptation to go for that big 100lb branch that’s been pissing you off and is *JUST* within reach will be strong. I strongly recommend doing smaller sections instead.
DON’T: Get the thing directly over your head to get that extra couple inches of height. And don’t use a ladder if possible. I was hell-bent on “getting it done” this weekend. Went for that “one last motherberkeleyer” from the top of the ladder. The saw got a little too “vertical,” and I threw it behind me just in time to jump off the ladder vs. falling off it, and it’s a miracle I didn’t break my damned neck.
Also: Have a plan for the debris. My burn pile has gotten outta control, so I’m paying a guy to come haul off this last batch. Cheaper than hiring the pros to do the trimming, but still “not cheap.”
Exactly what I am looking to do
electric vs cordless?
Also if you recommend no ladder - how should we get up high?
PS: I somehow almost always forget until it’s too late, but a “Jump cut” (going up 1/4 of the way through the branch on the BOTTOM) before the cut from the top (outward a couple inches from the jump cut) is a really good idea.
Otherwise, the branch can end up hanging and swinging from the last bit of wood/bark that remains when it snaps.
I dont 1988RedT2 said:If a chainsaw is dangerous, a chainsaw on a stick is more dangerous. Useful, but dangerous. Getting relatively low-hanging limbs away from buildings is probably do-able by the average Joe. Taking a large limb off a 90-foot tree overhanging your house is probably a job for the pros.
Disclaimer: I may or may not have spent some time this weekend on an extension ladder braced against a tree with a chainsaw in my hands. I still have all my appendages. You keep yours as well.
I dont own a chainsaw for the reason you mentioned. Thus chaisaw on stick is pretty dicey
i have a “tree cutter aparatus” on a stick that is manual. Takes forever to prune. It has a rope at rhe bottom and when I pull tha, the blade on top (not chain), clamps down on the branch. I would like something faster and more efficient
the 90-150 lb large branches I will let be for now, as I dont want to pay a professional and cant get up 50 feet in the air
i hate trees!
I find it much easier to just cut at the base of the trunk. No ladders, no annual touch up for at least a decade.
That said after finally using a pole saw this year, I need to pick one up. Way safer than the old way of using ropes and conduit with a chainsaw attached, and lots of fun.
In reply to mr2s2000elise :
I like the ryobi 18v we have, but 2 batteries would be helpful. Thick stuff will wear it out quickly.
The “pole” is 10’ long on ours. Anything taller than that requires a ladder, which can get really sketchy. But it’s pretty much that or hire somebody, I suppose.
PPS: I suppose I’m not recommending you go against the operator’s manual, but I threw away the “sling” that comes with it. The fall off the ladder would’ve been way worse with the saw wrapped around my neck!
poopshovel again said:In reply to mr2s2000elise :
I like the ryobi 18v we have, but 2 batteries would be helpful. Thick stuff will wear it out quickly.
The “pole” is 10’ long on ours. Anything taller than that requires a ladder, which can get really sketchy. But it’s pretty much that or hire somebody, I suppose.
Thank you
for me has to be with ladder
No choice
i will buy it by lunch
Thanks for reminding me that I've been needing to pick up a pole saw attachment for my Echo. I keep forgetting until I have time to prune the trees.. Ordered!
Yay for remote chainsaw injury instead of the local type I'm used to!
poopshovel again said:PPS: I suppose I’m not recommending you go against the operator’s manual, but I threw away the “sling” that comes with it. The fall off the ladder would’ve been way worse with the saw wrapped around my neck!
Sounds logical.
WonkoTheSane said:Thanks for reminding me that I've been needing to pick up a pole saw attachment for my Echo. I keep forgetting until I have time to prune the trees.. Ordered!
Yay for remote chainsaw injury instead of the local type I'm used to!
With all the scary posts here - makes me feel like i should just pay the 5 grand for a professional :( :(
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