Extending a telescopic tree lopper pole?

Herzlos

I have a new telescopic tree lopper (£24 from Argos, about 2.5m) but discovered it's not long enough for the trees I'm working on. I can get a 4m one for £90 or a 6m one for £120 but both seem overkill.

Is there any system available that'll allow me to affix another pole onto the existing pole? Even another 2m extension should be plenty.

Or are there any recommendations on a longer one that's decent value?

MikeJXE

Stand on a safe platform 

Section62

Herzlos said:

Is there any system available that'll allow me to affix another pole onto the existing pole? Even another 2m extension should be plenty.

I got some metal tubes from an old gazebo, the internal diameter being just a bit bigger than the S&J pruner pole, and cut a slot in the end of one of the tubes about 4" long.  Then used a couple of jubilee clips to clamp the gazebo tube to the bottom of the pruner.  Since the gazebo tubes had one end reduced diameter to fit in the end of another pole I was able to keep extending the pole as required (or until I had no tubes left).  Obviously requires access to a supply of suitable tubes available for upcycling this way.

You may get advice to stand on a ladder while using the pruner... I wouldn't advise it, very easy to overbalance when holding a long object on a ladder.

Jellynailer

I got excited about the thought of a tree topper to reduce the height of my cherry tree but when I looked this up I found this advice (+ others similar): https://pruningguide.com/tree-topping/ = lopping top branches is a bad idea.  I think I will pass on getting a telescopic pruner.

Herzlos

Jellynailer said:

I got excited about the thought of a tree topper to reduce the height of my cherry tree but when I looked this up I found this advice (+ others similar): https://pruningguide.com/tree-topping/ = lopping top branches is a bad idea.  I think I will pass on getting a telescopic pruner.

That's interesting but I'm now confused as to how I'm supposed to keep a trees size in check. For reference this is a ~30 year old silver birch that is at a guess about 8-9m at the top, hence me running out of reach (1.5m platform + 1.8m me + 2.5m pole gets me to 6.8m).

Herzlos

MikeJXE said:

Stand on a safe platform 

That was my first thought, but then I realized I would be spending a fortune on what would essentially be scaffolding to get me closer to the top when it may be much easier to just make the pole longer and I can stay happily on the ground.

Section62

Jellynailer said:

I got excited about the thought of a tree topper to reduce the height of my cherry tree but when I looked this up I found this advice (+ others similar): https://pruningguide.com/tree-topping/ = lopping top branches is a bad idea.  I think I will pass on getting a telescopic pruner.

You wouldn't use a telescopic pruner to carry out the practice of "topping".

Whether or not topping is a bad idea depends on what you are trying to achieve. One of the 'cons' listed in that webpage is that topping leads to an "endless cycle of topping every year to keep the tree in check".  Well if you want to keep a tree below a particular height at some point you will need to take the top off, then continue pruning on a regular basis to keep the crown to the size you want.  You can't* keep a tree's growth restricted without cutting it back... at which point you'll apparently unleash this 'endless cycle'.  (*dwarfing rootstocks being an exception where applicable)

If you need to reduce the height of your cherry tree then someone will need to cut the top branches at some point, but I'd suggest you would be wise to get an expert in who knows what they are doing.

Returning to the topic of telescopic pruners, they are ideal for cutting back growth which is out of reach of loppers whilst standing on the ground, and avoids the risk of working on the tree using a ladder.  People who have that need shouldn't avoid buying them simply because of a poor pruning practice in the USA.

TELLIT01

Reducing the height of an 8 to 9 metre high tree from ground level is going to be very, very difficult.  Getting past lower branches, cutting at the right angle, preventing branches tearing the bark as they fall away when only cut part way through, avoiding falling branches.......  If it must be done, get a good tree surgeon to look at the job and ask them what you will need to do to keep it to a reasonable size.  Only then can you really understand fully what you may be taking on.

Grenage

I'll add that tree branches look relatively thin and light from 10 metres, but get dramatically less so on the way down.  Loppers are alright for genuinely small stuff, but a liability beyond that. 

Herzlos

TELLIT01 said:

Reducing the height of an 8 to 9 metre high tree from ground level is going to be very, very difficult.  Getting past lower branches, cutting at the right angle, preventing branches tearing the bark as they fall away when only cut part way through, avoiding falling branches.......  If it must be done, get a good tree surgeon to look at the job and ask them what you will need to do to keep it to a reasonable size.  Only then can you really understand fully what you may be taking on.

True. I had a tree surgeon in last year to bring it down to a more manageable size, so I'm mostly maintaining it rather  than doing major cutting back.

Grenage said:

I'll add that tree branches look relatively thin and light from 10 metres, but get dramatically less so on the way down.  Loppers are alright for genuinely small stuff, but a liability beyond that. 

I absolutely agree.  It's amazing how much bigger the branches are by the time they get to the ground.

I'm not expecting to be dealing with anything too big to lop, and will try and bring them down in smallish sections. I've only got a 4ft trailer so aiming at that kind of size.