I’ve been making powerful progress on our yard (slash, having the time of my life) with the help of the handy chainsaw and our pole saws. That’s right, pole sawsss, one of the only tools that you probably don’t need two of… but here we are, with pole saw twinsies.
The Ryobi model above is only one of them; it’s an electric tool that needs a loooong extension cord that I haven’t actually put to the test, but happen to have a photo of, so there. Pete reported that it gets the job done. The one you’ll be seeing me use throughout the post is one from the Kobalt 40v line of cordless tools. Cordless = battery and I really love me a good, battery powered power tool for ease of use… for easy projects, you can’t beat a push button start. I’m not sponsored to be sayin’ that, you should know, my husband is the one who works with Kobalt.
See, we bought our first pole saw last summer because we (Pete) needed a way to conveniently trim low-hanging branches in our yard. Pruning branches is much like getting a fine manicure, totally zen and relaxing and filled with immediate satisfaction (not smooth fingies, though). Last summer, while big and preggo, I couldn’t safely get my hands on this new tool, but I said more than once that it was going to be my toy of choice for the summer of 2014. And here we are, back to my eager-to-work self, wielding amazing tools while the baby watches on from the jogging stroller parked in the shade. Teach ’em young, right?
Before you wonder what the hell I’m wearing across my body in most of these photos, it’s a Baby Bjorn. Yes. I find myself wearing it, shall we say, a lot. And usually without the baby inside because, who cares, it dangles, and usually I forget that it’s on.
Anyways, the sheer bodily abilities required to maneuver a pole saw some 10+ feet over your own head, and then lower it carefully back down safely, all without not being impaled with trimmings and debris, is genuinely rewarding. The Bjorn might do something for back support or added protection or something, but the company probably wouldn’t endorse me pointing that out.
Cut to me, three days post my first pole-sawing weekend, as sore as I would be if I were one who latched onto the crossfit trend. You crossfit people are maniacs (in the nicest way possible), come help me with yard work sometime.
Come to think of it, pole sawing is like my crossfit. Except crossfit people probably don’t finish off their workout with a beer. And there’s probably some logistical guideline out there as to what defines crossfit–I haven’t looked into it–but I suspect it involves rolling around large tractor tires, or jumping on them maybe. If we had a tractor, tire moving might become my sport. I should just stop now, it’s Kit from DIY Diva that should be the one to define the real guidelines for backyard crossfit. She’s badass, and not that I know for sure, but I really don’t think she has a gym membership since she can get her fix by carrying two bales of hay at a time. Chime in as you wish, girl.
I digress. This was probably unsafely high, but I felt more unsafe balancing on a ladder.
Our “clear out all the brush to make room for a playset” project is going really well, and is still our biggest of all the springtime efforts. It’s going so well, in fact, that we’re at the point where we’re ready to buy lumber and actually begin construction. Daily, we’re amazed at the change in this back area of the yard. More room to live, more room to play.
5 Comments
Aww, your little girl is a DOLL! So much cuteness!
Pole saws are fantastic. We have a large number of oaks, maples, and magnolias so have had to use the pole saw quite frequently. Now I can get the new growth off the trunks with the little hand-held pruning sheers, but the upper limbs will gradually get lower and lower to the ground as they grow in width and branches, so we end up having to drag out the saws again.
We had to rent a stump grinder after we cleared out about 6 feet of brush all the way down our west-side property line……whew, it IS a job. After we cleared everything off, we couldn’t get the lawn tractor in there to cut it (from all the little stumps and stobs), so had to invest in the stump grinder. Money well spent, I say.
You’re clearing at the ideal time — before all the leaves come out. Looks great!
Thanks Michele :) Where’d you rent your stump grinder? That’s the kind of thing we would love to get our hands on. Great ambitions to hack down some larger bushes and a few dead trees this year, and it would be great not to have to hire out for the grinding… we did that for one stump last year and it was like, $60!
We bought the pole saw after seeing this post. My husband was astounded at how well it works! We’ve been having fun with it :)
Huzzah!! Enjoy your new toy!
We’re using the heck out of it! I’m so glad you posted about it :)
It really is true that the right tools for the job make everything SOOO much easier. I can’t believe we used to try and do this with an old manual one. Actually I should say the hubster had to do it, I didn’t have the arm strength to saw up in the air.