Save Face With Your Long-Reach Pruner
By Kay DiVerde
You may not realize how to save face with your long-reach pruner. I mean it can literally save your face and the rest of your body from getting scratches while pruning thorny trees and shrubs.
I recently went around my yard preparing my trees for the cold weather. I pruned my deciduous trees and evergreen bushes. When it came time to work on my crab apple tree, I got into trouble. I wanted to pull off all of the dried crab apples. Doing this in the fall will encourage a better bloom in the spring. I started pulling off the low crab apples, and as I moved in to reach one, I scratched my face on a thorny branch. I moved to the other side of the tree, and it happened again. Something had to be done!
I wanted to pull off the rest of the crab apples, but I was tired of getting scratched. I looked at the pruning tools I had with me - my hand pruner and folding pruning saw . They wouldn't solve my problem. Then I thought of the long-reach pruner hanging in my garage. I knew that was my savior!
I brought my long-reach pruner to my crab apple tree. It was then so easy to reach in and pull off the fruit without even scratching up my arm. Then I extended the pole and was able to reach the fruit at the top of the tree. It was simple and scratch-free!
The cut-and-hold feature on my pruner also allowed me to hold onto the fruit and drop it in the garbage instead of having it fall to the ground. That saved me from having to rake up the crab apples.
Using my long-reach pruner to prepare my crab apple tree for winter was a great idea. I was able to save time and prevent myself from getting scratched. So, the next time you need to prune a thorny tree or bush, save face - use your long-reach pruner!
Kay DiVerde is a freelance writer, horticultural researcher and consultant for Orchard's Edge. DiVerde also writes for a variety of newsletters and publications in the Midwest.
