Okay, so yesterday I finally tackled that overgrown ash tree in my backyard. It’s been bugging me for months, with branches scraping against the house and blocking way too much sunlight. I’m no expert, but I did some reading up beforehand, and figured I could handle it myself. Here’s how it went down:
Getting Started & Gear Up
First things first, I gathered all my tools. I borrowed a pole saw from my neighbor, which was a lifesaver because some of those branches were pretty high up. I also had my trusty hand saw, a pair of loppers for the smaller stuff, and some good, thick gloves. Safety first, you know? I even wore some eye protection – wouldn’t want a stray twig poking me in the eye.
Taking a Good Look
Before I started hacking away, I took a good, long look at the tree. I wanted to figure out which branches really needed to go. I was mainly looking for three things:
- Dead or Dying Branches: These were pretty easy to spot – they looked dry, brittle, and had no leaves.
- Branches Rubbing Together: Where two branches were crossing and rubbing, that’s a recipe for trouble. It can create wounds and let in disease.
- Branches Growing Towards the House: Those were the main culprits blocking my light and messing with the siding.
Making the Cuts
This is where it got a little tricky. I learned that you can’t just chop a branch off anywhere. You gotta make the cut at the “branch collar,” which is that slightly swollen area where the branch meets the trunk or a larger branch. Cutting there helps the tree heal properly.
For the bigger branches using the pole saw, I made an undercut first, a little way out from the collar. Then I cut down from the top, a bit further out than the undercut. This prevents the branch from tearing the bark as it falls. Finally, I made a clean cut at the branch collar to remove the stub. Smaller branches I was able to get with loppers with signle cut.
Cleaning Up
Man, cutting down branches makes a mess! I had piles of branches everywhere. I spent a good chunk of time chopping them up into smaller pieces, then hauled some for fire pit, some for yard waste.
The Result
Honestly, the tree looks so much better! There’s way more light getting through, and it just looks healthier and more balanced. My house also looks much better when the tree not covering over it. I’m pretty proud of myself for tackling it, and I saved some money by doing it myself. Plus, it was a good workout! My back was definitely feeling it the next day, but it was worth it. I might need to do a little more fine-tuning later, but for now, I’m calling it a win.
