Choosing the Right Tools to Prune Trees

Home improvement expert Danny Lipford shows you how to prune your trees and how to choose the right tools for the job.

Jennifer: This tree is in major need of pruning but what battles most homeowner is what to prune and what to use to prune it. Danny Lipford: Now, of course tools are just as important in pruning as they are in remodeling and Jennifer has a number of her tools here and she’s gonna explain exactly how to use them. Jennifer: The most basic is the hand pruning shear and this is a great tool for pruning up to half inch diameter trucks. Over half inches, you need to go with a pruning saw and this is a Japanese style that works on the pull rather than the push that’s easy for most homeowners to use. Larger than that, you need to g o with the lapping shear and this gives you extra leverage because of the longer handles and this can handle up to a two inch diameter branch. Danny Lipford: Now, when you’re getting into branches that are large in that matter or even small trees, yo can use a bow saw. Now, its very sharp and fairly easy to use but just like on any of these pruning tools that are cutting tools, you need to be very careful, very safe when you use them.