Trimming branches to let in light… and climbing trees!!

I have several medium-large trees on roughly 1.5 acres that I’m turning into a food forest (I really just started)…

I plan to trim the lower branches of several oak & other trees & just got my ropes, harnesses & other gear in.

1. I’m thinking trimming while it is colder so there’s less chance of disease getting into the trees?

2. if anyone has links to (better) videos for roping up a tree or previous relevant posts I’d appreciate it

3. Knowing myself I’ll want to trim trim trim to let in as much light as I can; so I think I’ll just do the lowest branches this year & next year trim further up if I still think there needs to be more light let in; does this sound right?..

Any tips or advice would be much appreciated.

Oh! I don’t see a BB for what I’m about to be doing but maybe I’m missing one?

Cheers! 🌳

I have to do a lot of trimming around my property, but I let someone else climb trees with a chainsaw when that is needed.  I do suggest checking out the Lumos app.  You can set it for any day of the year and see the track of the sun through the sky.  A couple weeks ago I stood around the garden with my phone and checked the sun over the growing season and found that I'd get more benefit from trimming in a totally different area than I'd assumed.  I have a similar tendency to over do it, but I've made myself go slow and see the affect over time.  I usually cut and trim in the winter, disease is one consideration and it is also easier to deal with trees and limbs when there are no leaves/less needles on them.

Chris Vee wrote:Oh! I don’t see a BB for what I’m about to be doing but maybe I’m missing one?
Cheers! 🌳

This one:

https://permies.com/wiki/100730/Limb-trees-PEP-BB-woodland

Maybe these are something you can do:

https://permies.com/wiki/146564/Twig-Construction-Tomato-Cages-Bean

https://permies.com/wiki/126854/Junkpole-Fence-Gate-Latch-PEP

Anne Miller wrote:

This one:

https://permies.com/wiki/100730/Limb-trees-PEP-BB-woodland

Maybe these are something you can do:

https://permies.com/wiki/146564/Twig-Construction-Tomato-Cages-Bean

https://permies.com/wiki/126854/Junkpole-Fence-Gate-Latch-PEP

Ah yes, I have studied these deeply-- in fact, I bought a bow-saw yesterday just so I can start on the badges!... the local farm & feed had a sale and I got it for $5.40!!! I wasn't going to buy it, but then she said the price.

But also, with my current projects the trees will remain standing... I was looking for something more like "The Monkey" BB, "In this BB you will scale a tree like a chimpanzee"

So you were wanting a BB Bit for using the ropes, harnesses & other gear while climbing in a tree?

Then maybe this will work for you:

https://permies.com/wiki/pep-badge-oddball

Anne Miller wrote:So you were wanting a BB Bit for using the ropes, harnesses & other gear while climbing in a tree?

Then maybe this will work for you:

https://permies.com/wiki/pep-badge-oddball

Awesome Anne!!! thank you so much, I had no idea about the oddball B yet!! I fit in perfectly with this badge

Howdy,

When I was 19, in the early 1970's, I happened to get a job with the St.Louis County Park Dept. tree crew. Crew did tree maintenance for 44 county parks. I went on to working most of my life in reforestation, with tree climbing and surgery being a big part of it.  I have been getting a great deal of my firewood from climbing and cutting out dead limbs. I do not try and damage the exsisting healthy forest. At 71 I am still climbing trees, topping, etc. to minimize the damage and also dropping into place to make for easy removal, using cables, snatch blocks, etc. I work alone these days on my 40 acre mtn. retreat, steep hillsides. I have tractor, frontloader, chipper...

I don't try and use climbing spurs in trees that I am trying to save. I throw a rope and use a ascending/rappel climbing knot, old school climbing.  Rule of thumb is three points of contact, two legs+one hand, two hands+one leg, climbing/safety rope/lanyard+one hand+one leg=3 points of contact. To have both hands and arms free for cutting and working, you need to have safety line and both feet secure and steady, feel comfortable. Balance is everything and trusting the rope may be the hardest. I use a climbers chainsaw, a one handed type, so my safety lanyard is a cable core type.  It can be used as a flip line when you are climbing with tree spurs. Your climbing ropes should be rope you will trust your life on, as in real tree climbing ropes, not just "boat anchor" hardware stock.

To get a rope into the tree for climbing, I have a weighted throw line, small nylon cord, 2.5 oz weight bag. I have thrown this up to heights of 60ft. Get this throw line  in the tree and pull your climbing rope up into place. I also have just a piece of hardware store twisted manila/ clothes line type and just tie a piece of steel pipe in the end for weighted throw line.  You want to get the rope high enough that you will be able to be standing on some of the branches. I do still use hand saws and pole pruners/pole saws. My pole saw has branch hooks on the tip. I am able to place ropes with it. It is old school, wood pole, 6 ft. extensions. Pole saw in tree comes in real handy.

Things look a lot different in the tree. I find it's best to get settled, get climbing rope higher than the work, and then just take a look around. In tree surgery, dead limb removal is always first.  Take your time and watch the shape of the tree change. It's been my favorite type of work.

Check out   Jeff Jessop, A Tree Climbers Companion, a book on tree surgery... I got this book to show my ground workers what I was doing, as it can be hard to keep up a conversation when you are off the ground. Nowdays I see they actually have hardhat and radio/talking devices.

Outstanding advice sir, I really appreciate hearing from a pro, it sounds like I'm on the right track. Over the years I've done a good bit of mountain climbing across the US; but I think I need a refresher on my knots. And all the gear you listed is about what I just got

Howdy Chris,

That climbing experience will come in handy. Safety is the first word, as you probably know. Knowing those knots will come in real handy.

Yes I have fallen out of trees from about 40 ft. I have cut myself with a chainsaw, and can still play the guitar and dobro. I have had broken limbs/widow makers hit me from above when I have been working below. The most exciting work was  felling burning snags on wildland forestry fire crew!

Be safe, Good luck. Feel free to PM or post things and I will try to help.