How to cut tree limbs that are too high to reach

An inexpensive and safe way to trim tall trees that are too high to reach. You can do it yourself without a ladder, a lift, or a professional. Created Spring 2018 by Tim Furlong Jr.

Items used:
Medium Kong
Twine

[DavidLaFerney]

2 things... 1) you can actually get chains that have cutters on both sides to avoid that potential aggravation.
2) if you can get a helper and use longer straps you can spread apart and it won’t be as likely to bind. And you won’t be right in the death zone.

[laserdirect]

Wow I used your links to order the straps and saw and they worked great. I am 58 years old and I did not want to fall off of my roof or a ladder. I cut down a huge oak limb that was rubbing my shingle roof and it was about 20 feet high. I used a baseball taped to a string to feed the saw up into the tree. It was a huge rush when I cut through the huge branch. Thanks Tim for your genius idea. You saved me a lot of money and worry. Bless you.

[dantheman-adadwithchores]

Awesome video. After watching your video and ordered my pocket chainsaw off Amazon and used some rope I had (from camping). Worked great, I trimmed a whole bunch of high branches around my house. I used my dog's Kong as wel!! Didn't bother with the extra throw line, I just tied the Kong directly to my rope. Well done!

[paulcastillo]

I have used a rope saw many times and just so you know it is much easier to use it during the cut with two people doing the cut. Therefore, have one person on each end of the rope. The rope is much less likely to bind this way. Also, if you spread out the rope there is much less chance that a branch might actually land on your head.

[Andrew-hpyj]

So many people here who know sooo much better. Show me your videos then asshats. Good video man, good idea. I've got a couple branches in the 50' range I need to come down, so I'll give it a go.

[ermalpula]

Genius idea!! I’m going to do this to my neighbours massive tree.. one large branch literally scraping the roof of my house.. it’s quite higher then the branch you cut but I’ll give it a try.. wish me luck! Lol

[HelenBeeee]

What you can do is feed a holding safety line on a branch above to hold the limb in place while cutting it once cut through it would allow you to lower the cut branch to the ground. It would reduce the risk of kick back from the limb falling to the ground and or the limb bending at the cutting line squeezing the chain making it difficult to saw.

[rachelbarnes]

Thank you for making that video, I have that situation, however, wish you had shown how you attached the chain, but I guess it's the same as the string, great solution

[Aldo-mxrz]

I'm a tree surgeon. We don't leave stubs behind because the wound won't heal, the stub will decay, and the decay will become a cavity in the trunk. This results in a structural weakness and the tree above the cavity can topple. All of this is a years long process. By then you'll probably live somewhere else, so, somebody else's problem and a payday for me. Thank you. #ch-ching!

[semircehic]

Awesome! Well, you saved one Bosnian guy a lot of trouble - thanks so much

[EdieBabeMonster]

Oh hell yes sunshine... you made my day... this is exactly the task I’m on today.

[samcribari]

Nice job and thanks for the video...I used the method you've presented and it worked great! Simple and safe, by avoiding doing the job high up on a ladder. I made sure to stand well to the side and out of harm's way, from the falling branch.

[Simpleman]

Thank you for posting. I have been trying to figure out what to do about my super tall tree limbs. Respect!

[hogue]

I like how you stood directly under the branch the whole time.

[nfs]

I felt you were speaking directly to me, accurate to the T... until you said, "...cutting a limb 20 feet high."

I am 6'5". My ladder gets me to 25 feet. My extension pole saw gets another 14 feet.

I rented a bucket truck that got up to 80 feet, and there's still about 40 feet above my head there...

yeah.

I'm considering making my own video.

[kcender]

Tim, what a great solution to exactly the issue I have currently; glad I finally found your post! BTW, nice trio of Mac Pros. I only have one and it seems so lonely now. Ha!

[desotopete]

Had a similar situation for a dead willow that could fall on my garage. I shot an arrow with string attached over the large upright but forked limb. Once over I tied a heavier chord to that and attached a homemade grapple that hooked to the branch. I was able to rock it back and forth till it snapped off in the direction I wanted. But I have some other live trees I need trimmed so may try the saw you used.

[uhu]

Thanks very much! You're brilliant! Just did it...25 feet high! Used a rope, should have used the lashing straps (hard to get the teeth to turn into the wood with just rope). Thanks again brother!

[donniebettencourt]

Right on dude. That was awesome! Thanks for the lesson, now it’s my turn.

[ForgetU]

No complaints, next time when you have passed the Kong over the limb use that side to pass your lashing over then you will not be cutting you twine.