Shrubs

[ropensaddle]

I have been getting some calls for trimming shrubs and decided it may fill in
some hours. Any tree men out here doing them I will have to buy some good
sheers any ideas?

 

[treemandan]

I am the shrub and topiary specialist in this area. I love to do that kind of stuff just as much as I like raping TD's and talking crap. All for the ladies to say "my my that looks so nice, thank you for talking me out of cutting them down."
I just rehabbed one of the Arbs that was a little pom pom tree, very satisfying work. I know some people who see me think i am a common landscraper when I am working on them but I enjoy it very much.
What kind of tools? Just a few but make sure they are high quality and and sharp and make clean cuts.
Some Advise: If you are dealing with a shrub that someone just wants "pruned" and you both are unsure just trimm it like it was a small tree, raise it off the ground a little, clean out the dead, and thin it a little. It can take just as long as if it was a tree though so be prepared to invest the time to take your time to look at it as you go along. Most people don't care about what is above them, its what they walk by everday.
When I retire that's all i am going to do- shrubs, hedgerows and poodles. You know straping an a-frame ladder in the bed of a truck and driving down the line with a set of articulating, telescoping hedge shears is good work. Little secret to sucess there is to trim it, blow it out, trim it again, blow it again and then see how it looks. Pretty soon you will be doing bonzai.
Oh and: do you think I will still need the million dollar ins. policy for shrubs?

 

[ropensaddle]

I am the shrub and topiary specialist in this area. I love to do that kind of stuff just as much as I like raping TD's and talking crap. All for the ladies to say "my my that looks so nice, thank you for talking me out of cutting them down."
I just rehabbed one of the Arbs that was a little pom pom tree, very satisfying work. I know some people who see me think i am a common landscraper when I am working on them but I enjoy it very much.
What kind of tools? Just a few but make sure they are high quality and and sharp and make clean cuts.
Some Advise: If you are dealing with a shrub that someone just wants "pruned" and you both are unsure just trimm it like it was a small tree, raise it off the ground a little, clean out the dead, and thin it a little. It can take just as long as if it was a tree though so be prepared to invest the time to take your time to look at it as you go along. Most people don't care about what is above them, its what they walk by everday.
When I retire that's all i am going to do- shrubs, hedgerows and poodles. You know straping an a-frame ladder in the bed of a truck and driving down the line with a set of articulating, telescoping hedge shears is good work. Little secret to sucess there is to trim it, blow it out, trim it again, blow it again and then see how it looks. Pretty soon you will be doing bonzai.
Oh and: do you think I will still need the million dollar ins. policy for shrubs?

I understand they want them shaped square like they were before so motored sheers ? These are just those hedge row shrubs I am
not up on them too much I have done some nice Crape Myrtle
work but never these!

 

[kennertree]

I've got the stihl kombi system with the hedge clippers for doing hedges and what not. It works really well for the tall stuff. You can also get an extention to reach a little higher, and they have all kinds of other attatchments.

 

[ClimbinArbor]

82t stihl? cant remember the model, but i did some awesome work with the two foot stihl 2cyl. longer blade lets you get more even cuts. and if your good you can still make fine shapes with it. i did an arborvitae maze last year in 1 day. it was 4 acres. i had a guy doing the tops with a ladder and stigl pole saw with the clipper head. and 2 guys cleaning. i was coverd from head to toe lol. was able to do some great stuff. the lady gave me alot of creative room. there where some benchs in the four corners, that had been overggrown, and i made upside down half cones over them. made secret passes and other crazy stuff.

its pretty fun saddle. 82t or 85t i think......

 

[treemandan]

Yeah ropes, you got it, motored shears wil get it done.

 

[ropensaddle]

Huh maybe with some practice I could change my name to ropenscissorhands

 

[ropensaddle]

Yeah ropes, you got it, motored shears wil get it done.

I would rather use loppers though!

 

[osb_mail]

I took a class at are arboretum about pruning kind homeowner to pro type class first thing the guy said was any one how knows has to prune dose not use power shears or even long blade shears . He the only tools you need to prune small trees and shrubs are hand pruner felco type and pruning saw . It is more of natural approach .No shears allowed . Now I have used about every type equipment you can think of to prune and really enjoy just use hand pruners it takes time and not the tight look lot of people are looking .You make clean up quicker cut and throw . Try to make sun hit the whole shrub not just tips . And it gets to tall most shrubs can be cut to the ground every few years .It is different approach and might be hard to sell but it works and looks nicer once you get used to it . It is now hard for me to look at tightly shear yews and junipers knowing what they could be .

 

[pdqdl]

You need to be working a pretty wealthy neighborhood to get people to pay for hand pruning done the right way.

Most folks just want the durn bushes cut back to size. Shears work good for that.

Rope: ANY shear you buy, make sure that the handles work like the front loop handles on a chainsaw. Years ago, I had some Little Wonder hedge trimmers. Great electric trimmers, but the bar was supported on the front with a handle mounted on the side of the bar, instead of "above" like a chainsaw.

Before too long, no matter how tough you are, your wrist gets very tired from holding that weight. Fatigue sets in, you've been trimming for two hours. Before long you get sloppy, and cut yourself with the trimmers.

I had to retire my Little Wonder. I think I was the only person that ever used them for an extended period that didn't end up cutting themselves. I would warn employees about the fatigue issue before they went, and they always came back with cuts, often needing stitches, ususally on their legs. Small jobs: no problem.

I recommend Maruyama trimmers, they are unmatched for sharpness, durability, and clean cut on the blades. {I'll probably get jumped by all the Stihl enthusiasts for that}

 

[D Mc]

Rope, if you are looking for something to fill in the hours, the pruning of shrubs and hedges will definitely do that. We are actually trying to phase that portion of our business out because it is difficult to charge premium tree prices for that type of work. (At least in our area.)

It is hard to go into a yard and say I can "prune your shrubs" but I can't "shear your hedges". So if you want to be able to do the whole yard you will need power shears. The thought of doing a 200' arborvitae hedge with #2 Felcos is laughable.

I use the long reach, double-sided articulating shears from Echo. They have proved to be reliable. The long reach will allow you to do a smoother, cleaner job on large hedges, with less bending over and less need of a ladder. The down side is you will know you have used them by the end of the day.

Dave

 

[rbtree]

I took a class at are arboretum about pruning kind homeowner to pro type class first thing the guy said was any one how knows has to prune dose not use power shears or even long blade shears . He the only tools you need to prune small trees and shrubs are hand pruner felco type and pruning saw . It is more of natural approach .No shears allowed . Now I have used about every type equipment you can think of to prune and really enjoy just use hand pruners it takes time and not the tight look lot of people are looking .You make clean up quicker cut and throw . Try to make sun hit the whole shrub not just tips . And it gets to tall most shrubs can be cut to the ground every few years .It is different approach and might be hard to sell but it works and looks nicer once you get used to it . It is now hard for me to look at tightly shear yews and junipers knowing what they could be .

Rep'd ya!! Shears are for hedges, period!

 

[ropensaddle]

Ok guys don't be shy some pics of shrub and hedge work please!

 

[osb_mail]

I man wished some pics I had maybe drive one day and take some to show what I like . I know tightly sheared shrubs have there place golf courses, country clubs , the places that have horse racing . But they do not belong at wal-mart super stores park lot beds , in the middle of the ghetto , at a country log cabin . I don t have my camera right or I would take pictures of my shrubs outside my apartment they shear them at least 2 to 3 times a summer .Picture this 2 spireas a long the back 3 boxwood in the front boxwood are tightly shear into 8 to 12 balls and spireas never get grow more than 20 inches this is in a 12 ft x 10 ft bed . why not like them grow a little fill the beds in some . Less shearing more pruning less mulch the landlord would have to buy more labor hours the landscaper could charge hand pruning one time a year .

 

[Toddppm]

We've always done shrubs. It does take some know how, I learned from the first tree co. I worked for and have taken several classes/day seminars. It's alot like tree trimming with corrective pruning and directing growth where it should be, thinning etc. We shear where needed too.
Don't tell too many people though, leave some work for us. The hardcore tree guys won't touch a shrub. A bush, maybe.

 

[ropensaddle]

We've always done shrubs. It does take some know how, I learned from the first tree co. I worked for and have taken several classes/day seminars. It's alot like tree trimming with corrective pruning and directing growth where it should be, thinning etc. We shear where needed too.
Don't tell too many people though, leave some work for us. The hardcore tree guys won't touch a shrub. A bush, maybe.

I am finding I am becoming less hard core 45 hard core years

 

[ropensaddle]

I've got the stihl kombi system with the hedge clippers for doing hedges and what not. It works really well for the tall stuff. You can also get an extention to reach a little higher, and they have all kinds of other attatchments.

Yeah I picked the 180 swivel up today it fits on mu ht 101
I will have to do a little more work to get the rest but for
now its fine like it is loosen a couple screws and there ya go!

 

[M.D. Vaden]

I do a lot of shrubs, but the shears are not used too often.

To me "shrubs" is different from "hedges" or "meatballs".

Topiary is something I do on occasion. But a lot of my shrub pruning is selective pruning. Just did a row of Rhododendrons the other day, pruned shorter in similar fashion as a tree might be reduced in height.

Not topping, not shearing.

Either way, it's worth including with tree pruning.

 

[TaoTreeClimber]

Working on shrubs is a great way to let your body mend after a couple of rough days in the big stuff. Usually I like to do shrubs on mondays. (when Im hung over) or Fridays when Im burnt out from the bigger stuff. I was pruning a bunch of Siberian Pea and Lilac last week and got zapped by a bee. Unfortunately my epi pen was in the bucket truck so I had to pull off and head to the nearest fire house. (Note. if you go to the fire department for that kinda thing its free, if you go to the ER its expensive) Hand pruning decidous schrub is relaxing, but shearing big Junipers or Arborvitae is a pain. Just bring your Ipod and enjoy an easy day. Doing shrubs is just as profitable as doing big trees but with less wear and tear on your body. Plus if you have a bucket truck those 20ft upright junipers and arborvitae are pretty kitten compared to doing it off of an orchard ladder.

Kenn

 

[JeffL]

I LOVE ornamental pruning. I take no more satisfaction from taking an otherwise oversized for the area, or just plain beat looking shrub or small tree, removing the rubbing/crossing branches, dead wood, and pruning it for the desired shape/structure/size.

I'll spend 6 hours of a day hanging off a rope in a tree, and come down and feel good about doing it, but honestly I think I'm more proud of taking a 12' tall PJM or Rhodie, reducing it down to 7' to make it fit the location/landscape better, and have it come out still retaining a natural shape/structure, and not look like some monstrosity.

I did some nice Maraseii Viburnum a few days ago I really enjoyed. Havent done much ornamental pruning yet this year after last fall, and I forgot just how much fun Viburnums are to prune.

And shears are for hedgerows and shearing yews. But hey, even the yews need a good hand pruning sometime, you gotta get that woody growth out from the tips and get some light in there!

I remember doing this one last year, had some fun with it. Love the smell of PJM's too. Was originally just up about even with the eave of the roof, brough it down a good 3-4'.