Contrary to your statement that “Pruning large apple trees is dangerous and there’s no getting around that fact” – - let me clearly state that pruning apple trees need not be dangerous – and that’s the point to these notes. Long handled “pole pruners” or “pruning sticks” (they come in different lengths) have been around for over a hundred years. Fiskars (I have no affiliation with this company) produces an excellent range of these tools and your readers can find them by googling “fiskars pole pruners” for price comparisons.

The small costs of these tools are irrelevant when compared to the costs of spending one’s life in a wheelchair (as did a relative after falling a mere 6′ from an apple tree while spring pruning).

I hope this helps.

Doug

I would never defend my activities as being a demonstration of the best or safest method for pruning. I would agree with you whole heartedly that I take an exceptionally dangerous approach to pruning.

That is my choice, and a reflection of my personality. I’m not writing here as an authority on gardening, but rather as a hobbyist gardener relating his adventures with all of his personal quirks and foibles. In my writing I have presumed that my readership is mature enough to judge for themselves whether my actions are wise or not.

But, in case it wasn’t clear to anyone, I will state it clearly now: Climbing in trees in the manner demonstrated is extremely dangerous!

However, having agreed that I am not a model of safe gardening practices, I disagree strongly with your statement that “One does not leave one’s feet.”

Perhaps one can say that about the minor corrective pruning required for on-fruit-bearing trees, but unless you have a “cherry picking” truck with the attendant bucket to ride in, it is absolutely required that one do a lot of climbing to prune a mature full sized apple tree. It is impossible to do all of the fine pruning of the fruit bearing branches of an apple tree from the ground, using a long arm saw. One is not pruning only large branches, but also making a selection among much smaller wood stock–in effect, deciding which twigs will be saved for fruiting and which will be discarded. For that fine selection one needs to get close to the work, whether it be by ladder, by bucket truck, or
by climbing.

Leaving one’s feet is dangerous, whether it be climbing in a tree or on a ladder. Pruning large apple trees is dangerous, there is no getting around that fact. A small time orchardist must decide if they are willing to take that risk or not.

Climbing around on a tree to prune is an invitation to disaster and should be avoided at all costs. One does not leave one’s feet. One does not reach across tree limbs like this.

One does purchase proper pruning equipment for tall trees (only a small investment compared to the alternatives) from a company such as Fiskars.

While I’m normally a fan of your blog, in this case I’m disappointed with this very poor gardening practice that could get somebody hurt.

Doug