Pruning Tree Limbs Properly (Cordless Chainsaw)

[@johnc6228]

My 85' 3' diameter beautiful American Elm Tree had a 30 foot limb growing over my neighbor's back yard. His neighbor, (who knows everything)cut it 5 feet out from the trunk and when it crashed down it tore a long gash on the underside of the remaining branch and trunk. Dead elm wood eventually attracted female Elm Bark Beetles and they spent 2 years with grubs tunneling under the bark at the cambium. When my mom could finally afford a tree expert they weren't sure what it was and I told them it's Dutch Elm Disease. Two companies said no but when cut down I saved many samples of beetle life stages and trunk and burrow samples that I used for a presentation 7 years later in a Mycology class.

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Wow, that must have been really frustrating! And with a tree so large, probably really dangerous for an amateur to do an uncontrolled cut like that too. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@johnc6228]

@@FraserValleyRoseFarm Too many people make this mistake. Thank you for teaching the right way. In a county park by me there is an arborist that is chainsaw happy and nicks or cuts the bark really bad above and or below the cut. He also either leaves a stub or shaves it close. Branch collars mean nothing to him.

[@demesrvl6761]

@@johnc6228 That's no arborist, that's a butcher!!!

[@lavendercrowl5695]

So sad. I have a brother in law that snds about the same as yr neighbour... knows everything! Lol What a sad way 2 die 4 a tree. I was happy 2 c him demonstrate about proper pruning 4 other newbies. I love pruning and so have learned many techniques years and years ago.

[@capbin146]

Another excellent video. That’s next month’s chore, now I know the correct way. Thanks Jason.

[@elainegarry2857]

I bought a Stihl mini-chainsaw that I just love! It makes pruning so easy! Thanks for the video showing the proper way to cut 👍🏼

[@sealight78]

Good one. I always forget if the top cut should be further out from the undercut or not. Your explanation was simple but deep enough with the tree health and collar info that I don't think I'll forget the steps again. I honestly thought the order of cuts was just for safety and control, but it makes sense now.

[@bryonyhellis]

Really helpful tips as always, wealth of simple and practical knowledge for us all, thank you.

[@genemetz1945]

I love my Kobalt Pole Saw - 80-volt - 5-ah battery - 10" Bar - 6 ft / 8ft foot Pole Saw. No cable. I have been using it for more than 3 years now. It works great on my southeast Louisiana farm clearing property that a hurricane went through and trashed all the trees in the woods of our 20-acre farm. I carry it all over our woods and the battery lasts a long time. Today I'll be cutting a 6-inch limb off of a tree out front.

[@emmad4tennis695]

Really well presented instructional video with useful 'what to do's, no time wasting, straight to the point.

[@demesrvl6761]

Hi Jason, another super helpful video! I use your technique, but if I have a whole limb to remove, I'll often cut it off in portions first. On your limb, I would have taken off about half, then made the cuts you showed. Yes, extra work, but easier for me to handle than having a 12' limb hit the ground and bounce back at me!!

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Thanks. Good point - especially when there's a lot of weight on the branch, it's a really good idea to remove some of the side-branches and extra length before you even get to the stage I showed. I also maybe should have warned (based on a story I heard in one of the other comments) to know your limits as an amateur. If the limb is very large or quite high or could cause damage or danger when it comes down, best to leave for a professional.

[@rgitzelify]

That's an excellent demo, it was really WOW to see how the second cut went to quickly back to the first. I guess this is why I've been procrastinating over that tree in the front yard, I was waiting for the right technique! :-)

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Thanks Rodney

[@Outlander34]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am not the most handy person, but my wife relented and let me buy a little 4" chainsaw, (Believe me, you don't want me using a bigger saw), and I wanted to do it properly and safely. I have a 100 metre long driveway, rural area, with trees on each side, which I have ignored too long. So now I know how to do it safer. Again, thank you.

[@marmaladesunrise]

Nice job, Jason.

[@johnsomich7890]

I came looking for information about sealing a tree after cutting off large branches from the lower 3rd of my very large oak tree…. Found out I don’t have to do anything! Thanks for the debunk on the myth.

[@chandraprasad1244]

Seems to be a very useful tool to have in ones garden

[@gerismakeuplaughs152]

I don't have any questions about the specific topic but would love some longer more detailed videos on rose propagation going into further detail of you chart of different ways to propigate roses that you recently did! I miss your longer video's. I don't miss any.

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Thanks. I'll keep working on prop videos too, and BTW if you have any specific questions, let me know and I'll try to address them in an upcoming Q&A video.

[@TODR34M]

Thanks for the tip. That chainsaw looks nifty

[@leiaflash5055]

I need to get my hands on this or something like it! Thanks for the demo Jason :)

[@breakingburque2200]

I loved the tool, definitely looked helpful.

[@lavendercrowl5695]

Did u catch the name / company?

[@johnc6228]

@@lavendercrowl5695 Kebtek 4" Chainsaw of Sugarland, TX

[@lindam9018]

What a handy tool that is!

[@DirkSimmons]

Thank you for the help. I was wondering if you needed to protect the cut.

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Thanks. No, the research concludes that pruning sealer is more harm than good.

[@venicelight1320]

Thank you for this very helpful guidance!

[@maxiewex1496]

Thanks!

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

We really apreciate the support

[@ceili]

I have one of those but a different brand and they are soooooo handy

[@reelinreggie6757]

Excellent video

[@xtina4968]

I thought buying cordless chainsaw ...thanks for this great video.

[@bartcrawford8462]

thank you!

[@yonokzeller5402]

Awesome I need one like that thank you!

[@gardentours]

Thanks for sharing 🌳✂️👍

[@wiesbadengera1]

The first tool he used ...I want one!!

[@FrenchieFrench1555]

Good morning Jason. I have a question for you that you probably already answered a few hundred times: how to encourage the growth of new canes on climbing roses? I have climbing roses that are probably close to ten years old and they very rarely start new canes from the base. I tried to "regenerate" them( cut the hell out of them and them feed them heavily) but with little success. Thank you for your videos , teaching and help.

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Thanks - I'm afraid I can only talk in generalities: the vigor of the growth will be determined by the plant variety/condition and the sum of all of the environmental conditions: temperature, light, air circulation, good drainage but also consistent watering, supply of nutrients. It can be challenging to narrow down a single cause, but if you've addressed all of the environmental conditions, it may come back to the rose itself. Some varieties are weak growers. Some grafted roses become less productive and less inclined towards basal breaks as the bud union swells & is covered in "scar tissue". Other roses may be struggling with root problems that you can't easily diagnose except as a lack of vigor. I guess my bottom line is to begin with the assumption that it's something you can fix (troubleshoot the growing conditions) and after that you can consider if it's beyond your control, and decide whether you can live with its current performance.

[@flowerbanzai]

Good information !

[@elleohai]

super helpful, thank you♥

[@raymundsantos2324]

Hi Jason, loved your new tool! I'm a tool guy myself. I also have a tree that needs to be pruned. It's called an ilang ilang tree which bears fragrant flowers. Problem is it's very high about 20 feet so I need to attach a saw to a long pole or something. Don't know how to do it yet.

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Thanks Raymund. BTW, I do envy your climate sometimes. I looked up your ilang ilang tree - amazing! I think we spell it Ylang Ylang in North America, but the only way I'll see it is as an oil extract in the vitamin & supplements store.

[@raymundsantos2324]

@@FraserValleyRoseFarm It has very fragrant flowers especially after it rains at early night. The scent lingers. We have two trees at the corner and side. Only drawback is everyday you sweep a lot of fallen leaves and when it's as tall as a two storey house, pruning is hard.

[@djratino]

The pruning saw is a little too small for me. I bought a Kobalt 24V battery saw with battery & charger for $78 at Lowe's 2 years ago. It has a 12" bar by Oregon. It has a long run time and doesn't drip bar oil like most saws do. I bought the mini blower to blow wood chips off. Charges around 2 hours. Unfortunately this was a discontinued item, and most likely why I got it so cheap. The 40V version had problems. I've seen no problems with the 24V version. 🐀🐾

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Thanks for sharing the product recommendation. I'd love to get something mid-sized like you're describing.

[@lavendercrowl5695]

Wow, that small chain saw is just what I need 2 do some light pruning and cut down little trees along our woodland path. I wonder about sharpening the blades. What is the price of those?

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

I threw in a listing on my Amazn store: the brand is Kebtek, and I think it's around 60USD. There's loads of similar cordless chainsaws from China listed on Amazon, but this is the only one I've tried.

[@barbcottingham6675]

I have a Stihl gta26 for cutting branches, small trees. Super tough, and it’s cordless. Highly recommend 💚

[@ireneunruh9370]

@@FraserValleyRoseFarm Amazon store

[@lavendercrowl5695]

Thanks 4 yr reply and thanks Barb 4 yr brand, I'll check them both out!

[@ME_MeAndMyBees]

Hi, I bought one of those battery operated dinky chainsaws... to prune a few limbs crossing in my apple tree. Species is Discovery (eating apple.) When is the best time of year to do this ? I am in South Scotland. We are currently mid Autumn, just getting an odd day at up to Max 20 C (70 F) or so. The tree hasn't been pruned limb wise since planting it. It's 11 years old and about 2.4 Metres (10ft) tall and wide. I did pinch out Leader shots in some places, so it's round in shape, and top branches bend down with Apples, usually! Can you advise? Branches not as thick as the one you took off ! It fruited X bucket loads of Apples in 2020, but got x4 apples this year !?! Despite max blossom and Hives in my garden. Odd Spring weather, warm April, Cold Wet May... Some say you should prune Apples often. Didn't dare, because I lost all my 10 year old fruit trees, in a awful Winter back in 2010, when something debarking all the trunks !?! Killed : Apples, Pears, and Plum Trees. The lot ! (Closed gated garden, with 4ft Snow Drifts.) Might have been rabbits maybe ? Also this Discovery is so good, can I take Cuttings. Tried but failed. Any tips on this. Love my Lavender, and Roses, so do the Girls, aka the Bees. 🐝 You have a new Sub as from today. 😉

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Thanks. The general advice that I've been following is to prune apple trees in late winter, just before the roses. Thanks for the sub. I've had good success with propagating roses and lavender, but fruit trees are usually grafted, so I haven't messaed around with it much.

[@afriendofB]

Great video! Thanks. A cordless small chainsaw is at the top of my list for fall. I do have a rose pruning question. I have a 12 year old rosa rugosa hedge that is a couple hundred feet long. We usually cut it back in the fall to about 2 feet high and it crows back to about 6 feet high. It is getting a lot of really thick, woody, unproductive bits in the center of the clumps and I'm starting to see the centers die a bit. Should I cut it all the way to the ground to rejuvenate it or continue with what I am doing? Any guidance would be welcome.

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

That's a tough question - your history with the plant is encouraging that it'll come back from a low cut, but there's no way to know how low you can go until you try. Any chance you could treat most of it as usual this year, and then do a test patch on one end to see how it come back from a lower cut? That way it's not a big problem if it goes the wrong way.

[@afriendofB]

@@FraserValleyRoseFarm That's a great suggestion. I have an area along the chicken run that is about years old. Ill try it there. I can always dig up more starts from the main hedge if they don't respond well. Thanks.

[@sv160]

I killed my tree with pruning seal. I thought it would heal better but it was the black seal and in Florida the sun did the rest 😢

[@FraserValleyRoseFarm]

Sorry to hear it, and thanks for sharing a real world example

[@kariesistansteckend2196]

03:01 Pruning Paint or sealing with 10% Coppersulfate and 10% Lime mixed with Water is the only sealing Method that was not out of date. But this method is not allowed in the most first World countrys.

[@djratino]

Yeah I have a sugar maple. It'll bleed sap if I don't seal it.