This is not a story about trimming trees for the holidays. We have trees 50-60 ft tall behind the house. Their branches were extending out over the roof dropping debris and small twigs during the year. It was time to cut them back. There was no way I could reach them. The tree service had the equipment and personnel to do it safely. A few years ago they removed two large dead Elms. The video below of this recent work takes about 2 minutes.
Our View From Iowa 
Love it. I’ve never seen such a complicated “cherry picker,” with the ability to stretch out like that. Just keep the chainsaw away from those hydraulic hoses. I especially liked the last few seconds. The fellow in the bucket knew how to coil a line to keep the kinks out of it. I wish I could teach some of my customers to do that with their water hose.
Yes, that machine was very cool. It was slow, but able to articulate into the right places. You are right about the chainsaw and hose lines. And, people don’t coil the hoses properly? Do they even try?
I think some are impatient, and some never have been taught how to do it properly. When I started sailing, one of the first things I learned was how to coil line so it could be thrown properly.
It is very frustrating when lines or hoses get knotted. Even my earbuds do it sometimes. Then there are christmas tree light strings. Don’t get me started! 😦
I like the ‘feet’ and ‘legs’ of that cherry picker! I’m always sad when even bits of trees have to come down but I know that sometimes they must.
Yes, that machine looked like a preying mantis to me. I know what you mean about not cutting trees. Some of the parts were dead and in danger of falling on the house or someone. Another big one had fallen on its own in a wind storm. The top snagged on another tree and the base was still connected to the tree. It too was a danger to walk under. I think the trees will be growing back healthier limbs.
I feel like Val does – it makes me sad when I had to take off part of trees but it must happen. Very interesting video!
We just arranged to have several of our trees trimmed, cleaned up and a couple cut down. I will be interested to see if they use a similar machine. I know the last time they used a bucket to take the tree down in pieces but didn’t see them do it. That is one cool and, I am sure, quite expensive piece of equipment. Maybe they get an insurance break since the guy doesn’t have to climb the tree.
I hope you get to watch. Take a couple of pics or video if it looks interesting. The operator didn’t have to climb. But another guy was about 40′ up and securely tethered in another tree. Moving was slow for him. The lift made work much faster.
I missed the bulk of their last time here. If I am lucky it will be a Monday job and I will get to watch.