Fall yard cleanup beckons.
Adding tree trimming to autumn’s outdoor to-do list can promote new growth, reduce tree shock and sappy springtime mess, and help keep power lines, roofs and patios safe from what could become moisture-logged, overgrown winter branches.
For do-it-yourselfers, safety issues should be at the top of the list.
First and foremost, tree-trimming experts advise against using a ladder as falling branches are a hazard.
“Anyone (who) watches ‘America’s Funniest Home Videos’ will be familiar with this type of accident,” says Ken Laituri of Westminster’s Tree Roosters LLC. While some home mishaps are worthy of a giggle, careless tree trimming “is a very real danger with severe consequences.”
If using a ladder is a homeowner’s only option for reaching high branches, Laituri suggests securing the ladder to the tree with a tree-trimming or rock- climbing harness.
Hiring a professional tree trimmer is safer and can save time because a small-to-medium trimming job could take the average homeowner up to 10 hours, including cleanup, according to Laituri. The cost of paying a professional for such a job ranges from $400 to $1,200, he says.
So for do-it-yourselfers hoping to save a buck, here’s one last tree-trimming tip: Develop a plan for trash because discarding the resulting refuse often is the most overlooked tree-trimming task.
“A tree looks a lot smaller up in the air than it does once you have it trimmed and laid out in your yard,” ” Laituri says.
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YOU WILL NEED
Trimming:
• Sharp handsaw
• Pole pruners (good for reaching tall branches and keeping the sharp object away from your body)
• Pole saw (only for those who are adept at using tools; a very dangerous tool)
• Chain saw for larger projects
• Electric shears (great for smaller bushes)
Cleanup:
• Rake
• Broom
• Shovel
• Blower for debris
• Twine (for bundling)
• Tarp for easily gathering debris
Safety and protection equipment:
• Safety goggles
• Hard hat for above-head work
• Chain-saw chaps
• Leather gloves (Pro’s note: Refrain from using gauntlet gloves as the wrist cuff can get caught on branches)
Optional rental equipment:
• Brush chipper
• Trailer
• Stump grinder
DIRECTIONS
1. Research your trees. Knowing the proper time to trim a specific tree and how to make basic cuts will prevent tree damage. Colorado State University maintains an excellent arborist website where homeowners can learn about their trees ( /trees.html). Also, CSU’s Extension Service has detailed pruning tips: and search “pruning.”
2. Visually inspect the tree for safety. Look for stability and where debris will fall. Are there any loose limbs that may come down on your property or in the street? What about a bees’ nest?
3. Place a tarp underneath the work area to gather debris.
4. Inspect tools for safety; sharpen any if necessary.
5. When pruning, work from top to bottom to shake out cut branches. When removing a full tree, work from bottom to top to get branches out of the way.
6. Bundle debris for trash pickup, or haul it away. Some cities have branch-recycling programs. Trash companies usually require branch bundling in specific sizes (4-foot bundles). Find out about local branch-removal services before beginning a do-it-yourself pruning project.
These trimming tips were provided to The Denver Post by and Ken Laituri’s Tree Roosters franchise. More at /treeroosters
