Skinny Pruning Tool?

Forum Archives

 

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Lisa A

Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro

Posted: Feb-03-2005 at 9:55am Is there a pruning tool that will let me get into tight quarters? What I'd like is a pruning chain or wire that I can loop around the branch I want to cut without nicking surrounding branches. Is there such a tool?

I've got an old, thick, knobby branch base (reminds me of a graft union on hybrid tea roses) in one of my barberries that is crowding out new growth. It needs to come out but short of cutting the branches I want to keep, I can't figure out how to get this cut down to its base.

Oh, yeah, any favorite tricks for pruning these thorny devils? I love them in the garden but oh, how I hate pruning them! My poor hands are covered with red welts and a few stubborn thorn slivers and I've only got 2 of them done. I've got 3 more to go.

 

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tommyb

Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley

Posted: Feb-03-2005 at 11:11am

Yep, there is, but the one I found may be a bit industrial for such a delicate cut: Cutting Chain . Should be available locally, but not at the Homeless Despot (per their web site).

Maybe the Cutting Host has better info.

I'm considering pruning my barberries also, I hope an expert chimes in.

I like the prunings scattered in my flower beds, seems to cut down on the visiting cats!!

Tom

 

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mdvaden

Location: Oregon, Western

Posted: Feb-03-2005 at 3:21pm

I think I saw something like a chain or 'strand' for cutting at come place like Gart Sports, REI or GI Joes in the camping / hiking supplies.

M.D. Vaden

 

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Lisa A

Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro

Posted: Feb-03-2005 at 4:54pm

Cool! I'll go look for one of these. Thanks mucho!

 

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mdvaden

Location: Oregon, Western

Posted: Feb-03-2005 at 6:51pm

Also, Home Depot and other hardware stores sell a type of handsaw that's been around for years in home construction, that tapers very, very narrow toward the end. I'd imagine that pointed end saw blade would get into some fairly tight spots.

Drywall saws are a bit like that, but I'm not sure if those are as tapered as the one I've seen.

M.D. Vaden

 

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mdvaden

Location: Oregon, Western

Posted: Feb-04-2005 at 2:32pm

In a BiMart today, I saw the skinny saw - it's called a wallboard saw. The blade tapered from about 1.25' near the handle to about 3/8' near the tip.

The same BiMart had a Corona pruning saw with a blade that tapered almost as much - almost as little as 1/2'.

Certainly other stores or garden centers will have those.

Much skinnier than most pruning saws.

I don't remember what Portland Nursery has in Portland, but I remember that they have an awfully big assortment of gadgets and tools.

M.D. Vaden