How to trim a tall tree branch in 20 minutes for only $7 without climbing or a ladder (DIY)

Need to trim dead wood out of a tree in your yard? Worried about getting up on a tall ladder, or trying to climb with cutting equipment? Here I explain step-by-step how I trimmed a 30-foot-high branch in just 20 minutes, without getting up into the tree or operating a gas or electric chainsaw. It only cost me about $7.

DON'T BE UNSAFE. IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE OR UNSURE ABOUT HOW TO SAFELY TRIM TREE BRANCHES, HIRE A PROFESSIONAL.

[chrisgraham]

In the late 70's I had a diseased elm tree behind my home, about the same size as the tree in this video, that was difficult to access and very expensive to have it professionally removed. I used this method along with a number of other strategies to engineer removal of the entire tree, branch by branch. Attacking it for a short time each day, it was two and a half months before it was completely removed and my back and shoulders got a hell of a workout, but I saved about $1, 800 dollars.

[americanpatriot]

A few tips I found that make this method a little easier: spray the chain saw with silicone or WD40. It will make sawing a little easier and prevent binding. Also use leather gloves as it’s very easy to get rope burn.

[MatthewPlatz]

To me this is the real value of YouTube, offering excellent How-To videos which contribute to higher learning and saving a buck when someone really doesn't have it to give away. Sir, thank you so much for having the desire to share your experience with us! Problem solved, ordering my chainsaw and rope! All the best!

[cstevenson]

I'd recommend having another rope tied to the limb (throw the rope over the branch, make a loop on one end, pull the other end through the loop until it's snug up on the branch) that someone else can pull to direct the fall of the limb. That fence could've been messed up easy, and it could swing back on you. Also, in the event that a strip of the limb stays intact on the bottom (so the limb "falls" but stays hanging on), that second rope can give you some tension to reposition the chain and finish the cut.

Edit: And if you don't have someone to pull the limb, that second line can be tied off to another tree. It's not going to pull the limb in a direction like a person would, but it'll still give you more control over where the limb falls. Can do a "trucker hitch" or use a rachet strap at the anchor point if you want a good bit of tension.

[mercedeslindigenous]

I am a climber that has been cutting trees for 18 years and owns his own company and I approve this method if you don't want to pay arborist prices, it was easy and safe, I have gotten a few customers that have hurt themselves trying to do their own tree work and like I tell everyone "Its a lot cheaper than a hospital bill". Great Job

[CandC]

A few comments, based upon having done this many times over the years.
Forget throwing the hammer. I used a Wrist Rocket sling shot, a fishing lead weight, and fishing line. The line is coiled loosely in a can so it doesn't tangle. I used the "football" shaped weights to reduce getting caught on tree bark and twigs. You could paint the weight for hi visibility. And neon line for same.
The reasons are: It's fin. You can reach higher up a tree. The thin fishing line is used to pull up the heavier cord for sawing. Also the light line could be snapped off if tangled in the tree.. You could tie it to the lead weight with a non locking knot. If the weighted part gets stuck, pull real hard and either the knot unties under load. Or the line snaps. You could use a much lighter strength line just at the weight to allow it to break free if needed.
He used the correct cord for sawing. You do not want any stretch when pulling.
Some of those chain saws have weighted tabs that can indicate which way the teeth are facing.
Some chain saws are too good, and bite into the wood to aggressively. I bent small pieces of copper wire over some teeth so they wouldn't cut at all. This meant less binding, but still effective sawing.
Since I over think things like this, I once "topped" a tree by sawing the tree, not the branches, horizontally about 30 feet up. How? I used the sling shot method to tie a couple pulleys to a nearby tree. So the saw lines pulled horizontally, which you can't do otherwise. It took time (I wasn't in a hurry) I made mistakes. It was free. The tree was tall but to thin to climb, and if felled by just cutting the trunk, it would hit the neighbor's property.

[CDyer_BKNJ]

Just did this on a limb about 30ft high (pole saw only went to 15ft), and worked like a charm! A little tricky as the target branch was protected by some other branches, but my water bottle and QB accuracy did the job 😉😆 Thanks for the video!

[PapasAnimals]

Love it! This reminds me of a palm tree hanging over our backyard pool. The darned thing was way overdue for a trim, but this guy (me) doesn't do heights. I bought a very small, lightweight, electric chain saw and taped it to the end of two 20 foot aluminum poles. Running an extension cord to the business end of the pole, I had my wife 'plug me in'. Even though it was small, the saw's weight made it tough to control the end of my contraption, and neighbors all around me brought their kids inside while I was working! An electric chainsaw taped to the end of a long aluminum pole, stretched out over a swimming pool full of water... what could POSSIBLY go wrong, right? 😂
Thankfully, I retained my title as the "awesomely cool neighborhood Dad" and no one got hurt. ❤

[ArbitraryLifestyle]

For dead branches, this is great! The issue I have with cutting live branches is that there's no under-cut to on the branch to prevent the bark from peeling/tearing towards the main trunk once you've almost completed your cut. It's not the end of the world of course, but that "tear" created by this method (or possibly created) can absolutely invite pests and fungus into the injured area, which can lead to major damage down the road. To prevent this issue you should use the "3 cut method", but obviously that's not possible with the tools used here.

[actiondisplays]

This is easy for you, you're a young guy! I'm hurtin' just watching you and I'll still be feeling it tomorrow! 🤣

[Aed]

Your branch broke off clean, but what you might do at first is to stand along the fence line and take a few initial strokes to score the bottom of the branch, then come back to the camera side to get the other bottom-side. Then you can go at the top. That will increase the chance of a clean break.

[DiannaAtherton]

This is why I love YouTube. It is a how to get it done tutorial. Thank you and thank you for not pushing a product to buy or begging for subscriptions.

[millikenway]

Man, you are a genius. I have been staring at my tall maple trees, like 50 feet tall, how to cut off the top branches so that it won't be too brushy to fall down in one shot. You just save my life. Thank you so very much for taking the time to share your tips. God bless you. From Toronto.

[bartonseagrave]

I like how he started the video in 2018 and then it was cut to 2019 after sawing manually every day for a year. I can see him branching out into other money saving ideas for the common man.

[Amyzgrr]

Okay, we actually did this for our tree in the backyard which had a branch hanging a little too close to our fire pit. Can't thank you enough for this tip. I was able to do most of the work, but my husband enjoyed pitching in to make the throw and the last part of the sawing. Get 'er done!!!!

[joeblundell]

I've had an orchard for decades, and the one big problem you'll run into doing this regularly, is that cutting from the top without the bottom cut first will cause many fruit trees to tear the bark down the trunk as the top cut falls first, some trees can take a little tear, but many trees will die from the event in a couple years. You can minimize this by only cutting when it's dry, but without the bottom cut, your running a huge risk of killing your tree doing this method, and yes I've killed trees doing this, it seemed like a great idea till the limb ripped down the side of a huge old 40 year old apple, it half died the next year, then fully a couple years later.

[workaholic]

This is great simple idea that any person can do. I offer one additional safety tip though. If its possible to rope a limb above and over the one you want to trim, do it, and use that limb to secure a rope to the limb you actually want to cut.
This added step can help you control the descent, or guide how the trimmed branch falls; especially if its near your fence. It would really suck to save bunch of money on the trim...only to have to shell out the dough anyway to fix your fence, if a large branch crushes it.

[Tubedog]

Great video! After reading the comments, I agree that undercutting with a pole saw (if possible) is a good idea. With a branch that long, a cut halfway along the length and then a cut near the trunk could save a fence or shed. Thanks for posting!

[melgibsonfan]

Who knew the Nard Dog would teach me how to cut a tree down.

[kimmer]

I had a similar setup that came with a sandbag to throw over the branch. It worked great at my house on smaller oak branches.

I managed a 3 story apartment building in NorCal that had a 50 foot Chinese Elm tree in the front yard near a busy street. The limb drooping over the sidewalk was about 10'' diameter with brown water dripping from where it joined the tree trunk. Obviously, a dangerous limb. I tried the rope chainsaw from the ground and decided that the big limb might end my life if things went wrong.

So, I bolted 2 pool cleaning poles together and put a limb saw on one end. I operated it from the 3rd floor apartment balcony and struggled and sweated to make a cut. It was like playing billiards with a rope. The limb finally started crackling. I hauled in my pole saw and sat on a stool resting my burned out arms on the balcony railing. The limb might have been 25 feet long and its weight made the cut widen and crackle. It was about to break on its own.

Traffic was stopped and some soccer mom in a minivan was looking up at me just sitting there. I heard some ominous cracking so I stood up and made the Superman one armed flight gesture while shaking my hand menacingly at the branch. The lady had the WTF face on (the ''dude, you're crazy'' look) when the branch snapped off with a big noise and fell 30 feet to the lawn. By now I'm all smiles. I waved to her and she had her hand covering her mouth in disbelief. There was a rag close by to pad my hands and I dabbed my forehead with it like I put some hard mojo vibes into magically breaking that branch. She was staring at me, wide open mouthed now, wondering what she just witnessed. I shook my head ''NO'' and put my finger across my lips like shhhh, don't tell anybody. Traffic moved and she kept looking at me.

To the minivan lady on West Street in Concord, Calif,
I ain't no space alien nor a bewitched paranormal destructor unit demon. You missed the 20 minutes I spent sawing and sawing until my arms gave up. The limb broke on its own and you just happened to be there.