The necessity of maintaining trees near a home or yard often involves reducing their height or removing branches that pose a hazard. Performing this work from the ground is always the safest approach, as it eliminates the risks associated with climbing or working from a ladder. The goal is to modify the tree’s crown or structure effectively without resorting to dangerous or damaging techniques. This requires understanding proper pruning methods and the limitations of various ground-based tools.
Defining the Practice
The practice of severely cutting back a tree’s main branches to short stubs is known as “topping,” and it is strongly discouraged by arborists. Topping causes extreme stress by removing the leaf-bearing crown, the tree’s food source. The resulting large wounds create entry points for decay and disease, triggering the tree to sprout numerous weak, poorly attached shoots called “water sprouts.” A safer alternative is crown reduction or structural pruning. This involves selectively cutting branches back to a lateral branch that is at least one-third the diameter of the removed branch, preserving the tree’s natural form and allowing it to heal efficiently.
Manual Ground-Based Tools
For branches at medium heights, the most common tools are telescopic pole saws and extendable loppers. Extendable loppers are best for small limbs, generally up to 1.25 inches in diameter, featuring a bypass cutting head operated by a pull-cord mechanism. Telescopic pole saws, which can be manual or battery-powered, are used for larger limbs and typically offer a maximum working reach of 15 to 20 feet from the ground.
These tools must be used with the three-cut pruning method when removing branches over 1 inch thick to prevent catastrophic bark stripping. The first cut is a shallow undercut made approximately 6 to 12 inches away from the trunk to prevent the bark from peeling down the tree when the limb falls. The second cut, made from the top and slightly farther out on the branch, removes the bulk of the limb’s weight, leaving a short stub. The final, precise cut removes this stub just outside the branch collar, the slightly swollen area where the branch meets the trunk.
Powered pole saws are faster for cutting thick limbs, often handling diameters up to 8 inches, but they are heavier and generally have a shorter maximum reach. Manual pole saws, while requiring more physical effort, can sometimes extend higher and are lighter to manage when fully extended. When operating any pole tool at full extension, the weight distribution shifts, requiring the user to position their body carefully to maintain control and leverage during the sawing motion.
Advanced Remote Cutting Techniques
When branches exceed the practical reach of a pole saw, typically above 20 feet, a rope saw system can be used to perform cuts from the ground. This system consists of a flexible chain-saw blade with teeth on both sides, attached to two long ropes and handles. The first step involves using a throw line—a thin, high-strength cord attached to a weighted bag—to sling the line over the target branch. Once the throw weight is over the branch, the line is used to pull one of the rope saw’s handles and its chain blade up and around the limb.
The cutting action involves two people standing clear of the drop zone, pulling alternately on the two ropes in long, smooth, horizontal strokes. This seesaw motion draws the blade back and forth across the limb. To prevent the saw from binding, begin the cut with a series of heavy, alternating pulls to create an undercut on the lower side of the branch. Maintaining tension and a wide angle between the ropes and the branch is required to keep the blade engaged and moving freely.
Safety and Professional Limits
All ground-based tree work must prioritize a safe distance from the falling limb, known as the drop zone. Users must stand at least the length of the branch away from the tree to avoid being struck by falling material or tool recoil. Non-conductive tools are mandatory near electrical lines, but the safest rule is to maintain a minimum clearance of 10 feet from all overhead power lines.
Any pruning job involving limbs over 8 to 10 inches in diameter, or work near a structure, should be performed by an insured, certified arborist. Arborists are trained to assess the tree’s structural integrity and safely manage the weight of large limbs, using specialized equipment and rigging knowledge to reduce them in controlled sections.