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Hello.
Hello.

I'm Jody Gale, extension agent with Utah State University
I'm Jody Gale, extension agent with Utah State University

Extension Service.
Extension Service.

Thank you for joining us today.
Thank you for joining us today.

In this video segment, I'd like to talk a little bit
In this video segment, I'd like to talk a little bit

about pruning, and we're going to start out
about pruning, and we're going to start out

in talking specifically about pruning tools.
in talking specifically about pruning tools.

Any pruning job and any job we do
Any pruning job and any job we do

is a lot easier if you had good tools to work with.
is a lot easier if you had good tools to work with.

Got a number of things here.
Got a number of things here.

You don't have to buy all these kinds of tools,
You don't have to buy all these kinds of tools,

but there's a few things in particular
but there's a few things in particular

that are really important that make
that are really important that make

a pruning job a lot easier.
a pruning job a lot easier.

Let's start out with loppers.
Let's start out with loppers.

This is a real common pruning tool.
This is a real common pruning tool.

This is a relatively kind of a medium-sized lopper.
This is a relatively kind of a medium-sized lopper.

These have a rubber bumper here.
These have a rubber bumper here.

And as you make pruning cuts, and especially if you're
And as you make pruning cuts, and especially if you're

doing lots of pruning, those little rubber bumpers
doing lots of pruning, those little rubber bumpers

make not as much stress on your elbows
make not as much stress on your elbows

and it makes it a lot more comfortable job to prune.
and it makes it a lot more comfortable job to prune.

The type of lopper you do not want to buy
The type of lopper you do not want to buy

is this type, which is very inexpensive.
is this type, which is very inexpensive.

There's two metal bumps that come together
There's two metal bumps that come together

and they just crash together.
and they just crash together.

They make your arms very tired and are
They make your arms very tired and are

very hard on your elbows.
very hard on your elbows.

So you don't want to buy this type.
So you don't want to buy this type.

The $4 or $5 that were paid for this was still too much money.
The $4 or $5 that were paid for this was still too much money.

To get a good pair like this, you'll spend $20 to $25.
To get a good pair like this, you'll spend $20 to $25.

You don't need to spend a lot of money,
You don't need to spend a lot of money,

but this is a good investment.
but this is a good investment.

If you really want to go all out,
If you really want to go all out,

this is a very expensive pair of professional pruners.
this is a very expensive pair of professional pruners.

Again, have the rubber bumper here.
Again, have the rubber bumper here.

These have wooden handles.
These have wooden handles.

There's nothing wrong with wooden
There's nothing wrong with wooden

handles as long as they're very straight grain with no knots.
handles as long as they're very straight grain with no knots.

The wood is somewhat flexible, and to go along
The wood is somewhat flexible, and to go along

with this rubber bumper makes your pruning task
with this rubber bumper makes your pruning task

quite comfortable.
quite comfortable.

So one good pair of loppers is very needful.
So one good pair of loppers is very needful.

A small pair of pruning loppers like this to do the small work
A small pair of pruning loppers like this to do the small work

are very handy.
are very handy.

This particular pair is a scissor type.
This particular pair is a scissor type.

You can see that one blade kind of compasses
You can see that one blade kind of compasses

this shimmering surface.
this shimmering surface.

I like these especially because they tend to cut easily
I like these especially because they tend to cut easily

like a pair of scissors do.
like a pair of scissors do.

Another common pair is like this is referred to as anvil.
Another common pair is like this is referred to as anvil.

This has a flat surface here and a sharp blade
This has a flat surface here and a sharp blade

on the top surface.
on the top surface.

As you squeeze together, as long as you keep the blade
As you squeeze together, as long as you keep the blade

very, very sharp, it'll easily cut through many small twigs.
very, very sharp, it'll easily cut through many small twigs.

The disadvantage of this type of pair of pruners
The disadvantage of this type of pair of pruners

is that if they get a little bit dull,
is that if they get a little bit dull,

they tend to squash and crush the branch on the end
they tend to squash and crush the branch on the end

making it not heal quite as easily.
making it not heal quite as easily.

A good little file is always helpful with these types
A good little file is always helpful with these types

of pruning tools.
of pruning tools.

A little bit of touch up with a file
A little bit of touch up with a file

will make them last for many years keeping them sharp,
will make them last for many years keeping them sharp,

and so you make good clean cuts.
and so you make good clean cuts.

So one pair of loppers, a big pair, a small pair
So one pair of loppers, a big pair, a small pair

are standard equipment.
are standard equipment.

And then you need a saw for the big jobs.
And then you need a saw for the big jobs.

Saws come in all shapes and sizes.
Saws come in all shapes and sizes.

This is a standard keyhole saw.
This is a standard keyhole saw.

It's really referred to as a carpenter saw.
It's really referred to as a carpenter saw.

The disadvantage in using a carpenter type saw
The disadvantage in using a carpenter type saw

is they're designed to cut when you push.
is they're designed to cut when you push.

And a lot of times if you're working in carpentry,
And a lot of times if you're working in carpentry,

you're down here on a pair of sawhorses
you're down here on a pair of sawhorses

working this way so the pushing action works very well.
working this way so the pushing action works very well.

When you're pruning trees, though it's very different.
When you're pruning trees, though it's very different.

Often you're working above your head or shoulder height.
Often you're working above your head or shoulder height.

This is a pruning saw.
This is a pruning saw.

This is a folding pruning saw.
This is a folding pruning saw.

A very coarse teeth.
A very coarse teeth.

These are designed to cut when you pull,
These are designed to cut when you pull,

not cut when you push.
not cut when you push.

So you can be working over your head
So you can be working over your head

using the weight of your body to pull down,
using the weight of your body to pull down,

and it's a lot easier to do the work by pulling down.
and it's a lot easier to do the work by pulling down.

You'll notice this has a curved blade on it.
You'll notice this has a curved blade on it.

When you're dealing with limbs, that curved blade
When you're dealing with limbs, that curved blade

is quite an advantage, whereas the blade on a carpenter saw
is quite an advantage, whereas the blade on a carpenter saw

is straight.
is straight.

A few other variations on the pruning saws.
A few other variations on the pruning saws.

This is a real nice one for even heavier limbs.
This is a real nice one for even heavier limbs.

Again, the curved shape, very coarse teeth
Again, the curved shape, very coarse teeth

cut when you pull it and they work very effectively.
cut when you pull it and they work very effectively.

Just mention that this particular folding pruning saw,
Just mention that this particular folding pruning saw,

I've had this one for 35 years.
I've had this one for 35 years.

Prunes very easily or saws very easily.
Prunes very easily or saws very easily.

If you keep them sharp, they'll last a long time.
If you keep them sharp, they'll last a long time.

They're fairly inexpensive.
They're fairly inexpensive.

Recently bought a new one, and you'll spend $20 to $25
Recently bought a new one, and you'll spend $20 to $25

on a good one.
on a good one.

The thing that I like about these folding types is you
The thing that I like about these folding types is you

can fold them like this, and when
can fold them like this, and when

you're working in the orchard, you
you're working in the orchard, you

can tuck those in a back pocket and continue to work
can tuck those in a back pocket and continue to work

with a good pair of loppers.
with a good pair of loppers.

One more type of saw that's very commonly
One more type of saw that's very commonly

available, I kind of call this my Christmas tree saw.
available, I kind of call this my Christmas tree saw.

These are nice for cutting small diameter trees and things.
These are nice for cutting small diameter trees and things.

They cut when you both push and pull.
They cut when you both push and pull.

A standard bullseye type that's a commonly available
A standard bullseye type that's a commonly available

in many lawn and garden centers.
in many lawn and garden centers.

Worked very well for cutting much larger limbs.
Worked very well for cutting much larger limbs.

So there you have it, loppers, small shears, saws.
So there you have it, loppers, small shears, saws.

A few other tools that are especially
A few other tools that are especially

helpful for the long jobs are these pruning poles.
helpful for the long jobs are these pruning poles.

Pruning poles come in a lot of shapes and sizes.
Pruning poles come in a lot of shapes and sizes.

The type that I do not recommend are
The type that I do not recommend are

those that have a lever and a rope,
those that have a lever and a rope,

and the ropes tend to come down the handle
and the ropes tend to come down the handle

and are quite inconvenient and it's often
and are quite inconvenient and it's often

easy to get tangled up in the ropes.
easy to get tangled up in the ropes.

This particular type has the standard pruning
This particular type has the standard pruning

jaws here, a little lever mechanism on the top.
jaws here, a little lever mechanism on the top.

You can see that this has an adjustment where
You can see that this has an adjustment where

you can adjust the angle of the head
you can adjust the angle of the head

with this little tightening button.
with this little tightening button.

This one has a nylon ribbon that goes down
This one has a nylon ribbon that goes down

on the inside of the handle.
on the inside of the handle.

So to actuate the pruning head, just simply pull
So to actuate the pruning head, just simply pull

the handle in this manner.
the handle in this manner.

Very easy to work using your strength down
Very easy to work using your strength down

on the end of the handle and being able to reach out
on the end of the handle and being able to reach out

to far distances.
to far distances.

This one when you really reach long distance,
This one when you really reach long distance,

you can also grab this little button on the end,
you can also grab this little button on the end,

and the ribbon extends the entire length of the handle.
and the ribbon extends the entire length of the handle.

This is probably one of my favorite pruning tools.
This is probably one of my favorite pruning tools.

If I were recommending three things,
If I were recommending three things,

I'd recommend getting one of these,
I'd recommend getting one of these,

a pruning pole of this design, a pair of loppers such as these
a pruning pole of this design, a pair of loppers such as these

with the rubber bumper, and then a small pair of hand shears
with the rubber bumper, and then a small pair of hand shears

that work very well for the small group.
that work very well for the small group.

Before we close, this is another type of pruning pole
Before we close, this is another type of pruning pole

that if you have very large trees.
that if you have very large trees.

They're a little bit more expensive.
They're a little bit more expensive.

You'll pay about $90 for a pair for this type of pruning poll.
You'll pay about $90 for a pair for this type of pruning poll.

But as you can see, they have a very long reach
But as you can see, they have a very long reach

and can make it possible to reach quite tall trees.
and can make it possible to reach quite tall trees.

We have a ladder.
We have a ladder.

Ladders are important when you're
Ladders are important when you're

dealing with bigger trees.
dealing with bigger trees.

This is a standard homeowner type ladder.
This is a standard homeowner type ladder.

If you really get into it where you have a lot of pruning
If you really get into it where you have a lot of pruning

to do, one type of ladder that's commonly
to do, one type of ladder that's commonly

available in commercial orchard production
available in commercial orchard production

is a ladder that has the standard legs on this side,
is a ladder that has the standard legs on this side,

but the back of it instead of having two legs
but the back of it instead of having two legs

has just a long metal pole that's easily extended out.
has just a long metal pole that's easily extended out.

And by having three points of contact on the ground
And by having three points of contact on the ground

is a lot more stable than a homeowner type ladder
is a lot more stable than a homeowner type ladder

as you can see here that has four points of contact.
as you can see here that has four points of contact.

A few more tools that are useful when
A few more tools that are useful when

you have medium-sized trees.
you have medium-sized trees.

This implement with the bent forks on the end,
This implement with the bent forks on the end,

makes it very handy to reach back
makes it very handy to reach back

underneath trees to pull the limbs out
underneath trees to pull the limbs out

to clean up the pruning.
to clean up the pruning.

And when your trees are quite tall,
And when your trees are quite tall,

you can get this type of an implement
you can get this type of an implement

with an adjustable handle.
with an adjustable handle.

This is a standard painter's handle.
This is a standard painter's handle.

And if your fruit is very high in the tree,
And if your fruit is very high in the tree,

there's this little basket on the end with little teeth
there's this little basket on the end with little teeth

and a little piece of foam rubber
and a little piece of foam rubber

where you can hook on the edge of the apple gently tugging.
where you can hook on the edge of the apple gently tugging.

It it'll drop down into the basket.
It it'll drop down into the basket.

But you can reach quite high distances up
But you can reach quite high distances up

into a tree to be able to retrieve the fruit in the fall.
into a tree to be able to retrieve the fruit in the fall.

So there's an example of some useful tools around the yard.
So there's an example of some useful tools around the yard.

It's not necessary to spend a lot of money.
It's not necessary to spend a lot of money.

But when you buy tools, it's good to spend
But when you buy tools, it's good to spend

a reasonable amount of money for good quality metals,
a reasonable amount of money for good quality metals,

good quality handles.
good quality handles.

And by taking care of them and not letting them get wet
And by taking care of them and not letting them get wet

and leaving them out in the yard, by taking care of them,
and leaving them out in the yard, by taking care of them,

they'll last for a lot of years and provide
they'll last for a lot of years and provide

a lot of good service.
a lot of good service.

Thank you for joining us for this segment of pruning tools
Thank you for joining us for this segment of pruning tools

with Utah State University Extension Service.
with Utah State University Extension Service.

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