4 of the Best Tools for Trimming Trees – A Checklist

best tools for trimming trees
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If you are someone who places great emphasis on maintaining trees in scientifically approved ways but prefers DIY methods, you will require a handful of tools. Most of the best tools for trimming trees should already be in your arsenal.

However, if your gardening routine involves both tall evergreens and the most common shrubs, you should possess a few more devices that will help you reach the higher branches and trim them evenly.

Your local hardware stores or supermarkets should store the most essential equipment for trimming trees.

If you don’t get them locally, you can order them online on the various websites which cater exclusively to arborists and gardening enthusiasts.

A list of the best tree trimmer tools

You might have noticed that professional tree trimming tampa and tree maintenance services store several types of tools in their kitty. You do not need all of them, of course.

The following are the best tools to trim trees regardless of their size, shape, age, and fruiting seasons.

A. Hand shears

hand shears


These are also referred to as hand pruners and are a ubiquitous part of any toolbox that’s meant for DIY gardening.

In essence, these are glorified scissors – except that they are a lot more powerful than the ordinary ones we have at home and are capable of slicing through branches that are more than an inch thick.

A pair of hand shears is the starting point for any tree maintenance enthusiast as it helps clear the smaller and weakened branches, is easy to operate, lasts for several years if taken care of, and is very handy, especially for smaller trees and shrubs.

Buying a pair of ‘bypass shears’ is a very good idea, as they work better than what are known as anvil shears since the former are easier to use.

Bypass shears might often be a bit more expensive when compared to their siblings, but they are your best friends for almost all tree trimming tasks.

There’s a reason why arborists call them the best tree trimmer tools for rank amateurs!

Always buy brand-name units. Felco’s F2 is a particularly good one to own.

B. Loppers

lopper kept against a tree trunk


Up next on the list of the best tools for trimming trees are loppers. They resemble hand shears to a great extent but have longer and sturdier handles which makes them very useful while cutting through thicker branches. Even the most ordinary loppers can easily find their way through branches thicker than 3 inches or more!

It is one tool that all of us use, without exception.

You will require loppers if you are trying to trim branches and remove small, stubby outgrowths which are above you, and which you have to reach out to.

Using loppers becomes easier when you employ both hands. Most arborists across the United States place great faith in ‘Lifetime Loppers’ a brand owned by A.M. Leonard. This specific model’s blades can be replaced once they lose their edge.

C. Hand saws

hand saw on a black background


A serious gardener requires hand saws to hack away at parts of the primary stem that is often immensely strong and sturdy. Hand saws are value-for-money equipment for trimming trees since they can be used to remove diseased portions of a tree or miscellaneous shrubbery while you are standing or lying.

Since a typical handsaw is pretty big, try to choose a model that can be neatly folded. The greatest advantage of such a saw is that it can perform both push and pull strokes, and is safe even if you are reaching out to the topmost branches and balancing yourself on a ladder.

A good handsaw is sufficient to cut through branches that are more than 6-7 inches thick.

Check out the Fiskars brand of hand saws when you are buying new ones to replace your older equipment, or are just starting out assembling a kit. They come highly recommended.

Models from such manufacturers as Scotts, ACCO, and Newell are also very popular..

D. Chainsaws

lopper kept against a tree trunk

Rounding off this list is the chainsaw, used by gardeners, our tree service arborists, and botanists (besides slasher filmmakers) around the world.

Smaller models are often operated using batteries. But the bigger chainsaws which are used by the Tampa Tree Maintenance Company, still run on gas.

These gadgets have differently-sized cutting bars and are extremely useful when it comes to properly pruning branches and trimming any species of trees. You must be very careful when using a bigger model since chainsaws have often been blamed for accidents.

Chainsaws are vital for aesthetic gardening and are undoubtedly one of the best tools for trimming trees.

The next time you visit a store that specializes in equipment needed for gardening, pick out the latest Stihl Farm Boss models. These are excellent and are worth every penny!

Since you are trimming your garden by yourself, it is wise to wear a set of industrial-grade gloves and goggles. Safety is paramount.

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Tony Padgett
Tony Padgett

I'm Tony Padgett, a certified arborist (FL-9569A) and owner of Panorama Tree Care since 2001. I manage our team in multiple locations, focusing on safe and expert tree services. I also love giving tree services & care advice for better green spaces. Count on us for dedicated and experienced tree services.

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