As the weather outside gets cooler, the trees around your home will begin entering their dormant phase. During this stage, you can shape up their appearance and remove dead branches without fear of making them vulnerable to insects or disease-spreading fungus and bacteria. If you don’t have the proper hand and power tools to safely perform this job, here’s what you should stock up on from your local equipment rental store. 

What Hand & Power Tools Are Needed to Trim Trees?

1. Lopper

This hand tool looks very similar to your basic gardening shears, except it has a longer handle and sturdier blade for cutting tree branches. It’s best used on branches up to 2 inches thick that can be reached while standing safely on the ground. 

To prevent damage to your trees, use a bypass lopper, which provides a razor-sharp cut and allows the tree to heal properly. An anvil lopper is ideal when removing dead branches, where the crushing blows of this particular blade won’t be an issue. 

2. Pole Pruner

When you need to reach taller limbs, a pole pruner is good to have. This tool extends up to 10 to 15 feet and usually comes equipped with both a bypass blade and saw for handling small, medium, and slightly larger branches. 

3. Scissor Lift

Trying to balance on a ladder or hang onto a tree while holding power tools is extremely dangerous. Renting a scissor lift makes this work much safer. The strong platform is surrounded by a railing and can raise you 20 to 40 feet in the air. This allows you to maneuver around the top of the tree while holding the necessary equipment to trim it effectively. 

4. Electric Chainsaw

An electric chainsaw can make quick work of tree trimming. This power tool is lighter than its gas alternative and doesn’t pack as much power, so it’s easier to handle. It also comes in handy for chopping larger branches down to more manageable sizes.  

5. Wood Chipper

If you have a yard full of trees, the cleanup that follows trimming can take a while. Renting a wood chipper can drastically speed up this work. This power tool can follow you from one tree to the next so you can quickly deposit the fallen limbs. Best of all, the newly formed wood chips make great mulch to add around trees and flower beds. 

When you need the right power tools for trimming trees or completing other projects around the home, stop by Grand Rental Station in Elk River, MN. For over 30 years, the company has provided high-quality equipment and party rentals to the northern Metro Minneapolis area. Their knowledgeable team receives up-to-date training on all equipment and will teach you how to use your selections safely and effectively. Call them today at (763) 441-8608 to learn more about pricing and visit their website to view their available equipment.