When faced with pruning tasks where manual pruning shears are too small, pruning shears are too big or not big enough, and chainsaws are overkill (and possibly too dangerous), where do you turn? One answer is a pruning saw.
All pruning saws have one thing in common. They all have a metal blade with cutting teeth machined into it.
In addition to this commonality, they come in all shapes and sizes, from small 6-inch folding saws that fit in your pocket to individual blades mounted on long poles.
They all have the same purpose - to cut wood. This can be removing a part of a plant (tree or shrub) to shape it, removing dead or diseased wood, removing a plant completely (cutting a tree from its base, for example), cutting firewood, etc.
Telescopic Tree Pruner
In this article, we'll go over everything you need to know to help you choose the best pruning saw for your needs.
Our main recommendations - pruning saws, pole saws
There are specialized saws for each type of pruning. Which one is right for you really depends on the application.
For many people, a general purpose pruning saw will do the trick. But for some gardeners and DIY gardeners, it's not enough to just have one saw that fits all applications. You may need several different types, especially if you have large shrubs and tall trees on your property. For example, if you need to reach branches 15 feet above your head, you may not use the same type of pruning saw as you would if you were removing the stems of shrubs from the ground or cutting dead wood into smaller pieces.
To see our top rated pruning saws, just scroll to the end of this article.
Applications of Telescopic Tree Pruner
Folding pruning saws are great when you want portability.
They come in a variety of different sizes to fit nearly any situation. The smallest I’ve seen is less than a foot long with the blade extended and is used for delicate pruning of bonsai trees. The largest one I’ve seen has a blade that borders on twenty inches and an overall length of twice that.
The real question is trying to match the size of the blade length to the largest limb or branch you realistically anticipate pruning. In my experience, the most practical blade length (not including the handle) is somewhere in the six to eight-inch range.
Like folding hand saws, non-folding (straight blade with a handle at one end) saws have their place. They are typically longer than a folding saw, are more rigid (there is no tolerance or “play” between the handle and the blade like you typically find with a folding hand saw) and require some kind of carrying case or scabbard to keep the teeth away from you when not in use.
Non-folding saws come in many shapes and sizes. Choosing one comes down to what you think is the largest diameter branch you will be cutting. This will dictate the blade length (and blade design – curved or straight) and influence the overall length of the saw you decide to purchase.
Pole Saws
As with folding and non-folding hand saws, blades come in various lengths and designs depending upon the application. Virtually all are curved blades and some even have a hook on the end for pulling cut branches that get stuck in a tree.
As with folding and non-folding hand saws, blades come in various lengths and designs depending upon the application. Virtually all are curved blades and some even have a hook on the end for pulling cut branches that get stuck in a tree.
These are a completely different type of saw than hand or prune saws. They are typically used for “bucking-up” (cutting firewood), cutting larger limbs or cutting down a tree. The blade is stretched (tensioned) between the front and back of the saw. A handle at the back of the saw acts as both the grip and the blade tensioner.
Bow saws can have wooden or metal frames, although most modern bow saws have tubular metal frames with either plastic or metal handles.
For more information about the types of pruning saws, welcome to contact us. We will be happy to help you out!
