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#16
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Need a better way to prune the tops of a thick oleander bush
On Fri, 10 May 2013 09:04:05 -0700, Ashton Crusher
wrote: Any helpful suggestions? Automatic Shotgun with the 100 round drum. Danny lives in California. That solution is null. |
#17
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Need a better way to prune the tops of a thick oleander bush
On 5/9/2013 3:12 PM, Danny D wrote:
Trimming question ... I made a mistake buying the Echo HC-150 20-inch hedge trimmer: http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/12891035.jpg The trimmer is (way) too small to make the tops flat of my Oleander bush. I can't get the 20-inch blade across the top, while standing on a step ladder, from the one side. The problem is that the other side is wholly inaccessible to a ladder, so I can only trim the top of the bush from one side. http://www1.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/12891079.jpg The Oleander bush is something like five or six feet across, and something like nine or ten feet tall, for something like a few hundred feet along a cliff-like extremely steep hill. I can easily climb up on a step ladder to cut the side, but, I can only lean over about three or four feet across the top with the puny 20-inch 21.2cc hedge trimmer - and even that is risky because one fall could be dangerous with a hedge trimmer (I've already sliced my thigh with the thing in the past). So, I'm mostly asking if there are better ideas for how to cut the top of a tall and thick Oleander bush when you can only access it from one side, and when your trimmer is 20 inches while the bush width is at least three times that. http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/12891105.jpg Any helpful suggestions? I would have them cut to a manageble size, if possible. There are chain saws that operate on long handles, used to trim limbs from ground...would that work? |
#18
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Need a better way to prune the tops of a thick oleander bush
On Fri, 10 May 2013 09:55:41 -0700, Oren wrote:
Use those leftover pool poles........ Actually, if there were a way to extend reach, it would work! |
#19
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Need a better way to prune the tops of a thick oleander bush
On Fri, 10 May 2013 14:48:48 -0400, Norminn wrote:
There are chain saws that operate on long handles, used to trim limbs from ground...would that work? That might work better than these long-poled trimmers: http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/12898805.jpg Those don't work well with the oleander bush as the branches sway too much for a good bite. |
#20
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Need a better way to prune the tops of a thick oleander bush
On Fri, 10 May 2013 19:23:13 +0000 (UTC), Danny D
wrote: On Fri, 10 May 2013 09:55:41 -0700, Oren wrote: Use those leftover pool poles........ Actually, if there were a way to extend reach, it would work! Duct Tape. Half a role should hold it on an ol' pool pole. What do you need, a string for a throttle? |
#21
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Need a better way to prune the tops of a thick oleander bush
On Fri, 10 May 2013 03:34:26 +0000 (UTC), Danny D
wrote: On Thu, 09 May 2013 17:51:39 -0700, David E. Ross wrote: If you think the hedge is overgrown, use a pruning saw to cut each plant down to about 20 inches from the ground. Within a few months, it will again be a hedge. My wife loves the white flowers but it's crowding the driveway so I have to lop off a foot or more to trim it back on the sides. Just trim off branches that encroach the driveway. On the top, I just want it to look neat'ish. Looks fine to me. If you get a "loner" branch trying to grab too much attention, use this. http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-9240-T...pr_product_top That "wild" look suits me, and you don't have much choice with oleander anyway. |
#22
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Need a better way to prune the tops of a thick oleander bush
On Fri, 10 May 2013 15:25:51 -0500, Vic Smith wrote:
use this. Fiskars-9240-Telescoping-Pruning-Stik I do have one of those: http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/12898805.jpg The fiberglass pole is cracked, but still serviceable. |
#23
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Need a better way to prune the tops of a thick oleander bush
On 5/9/2013 3:12 PM, Danny D wrote:
Trimming question ... I made a mistake buying the Echo HC-150 20-inch hedge trimmer: http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/12891035.jpg The trimmer is (way) too small to make the tops flat of my Oleander bush. I can't get the 20-inch blade across the top, while standing on a step ladder, from the one side. The problem is that the other side is wholly inaccessible to a ladder, so I can only trim the top of the bush from one side. http://www1.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/12891079.jpg The Oleander bush is something like five or six feet across, and something like nine or ten feet tall, for something like a few hundred feet along a cliff-like extremely steep hill. I can easily climb up on a step ladder to cut the side, but, I can only lean over about three or four feet across the top with the puny 20-inch 21.2cc hedge trimmer - and even that is risky because one fall could be dangerous with a hedge trimmer (I've already sliced my thigh with the thing in the past). So, I'm mostly asking if there are better ideas for how to cut the top of a tall and thick Oleander bush when you can only access it from one side, and when your trimmer is 20 inches while the bush width is at least three times that. http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/12891105.jpg Any helpful suggestions? Landscape plants are not desireable if not manageable, so need to get it to where you can care for it or have it cared for without killing yourself. Is the entire row of bushes accessible from the ground? If so, I'd cut out (at the base) about 1/3 of the limbs. After that, have someone cut them down to a workable height (or a little lower, so you can still reach to cut them. They are very, very had to kill....in Florida, when they become overgrown, the practice is to just take a chain saw to them. You can cut them back severely and they do fine. If they don't bloom enough, buy your wife something from a florist or she'll be putting flowers on your grave. IMO, flowers are kind of like antiques....if they don't survive and thrive according to the conditions I place them in, it is no loss ) I'm busy landscaping my new yard, koi pond and veggie garden....hell of a lot of work, but if I didn't enjoy it I would not do it. I'm planting landscape plants, partly for privacy at their full, natural and desired size, care needs and appearance. Learn what plants need, how to take proper care and they will be much less work. Example: got lots of trees and leaves to rake? Use the leaves for mulch on azaleas and rhododendrons...healthy for them and less work than bagging. |
#24
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Need a better way to prune the tops of a thick oleander bush
Forgot the link: http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu/MG34800.pdf
You do know that oleanders are poisonous? |
#25
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Need a better way to prune the tops of a thick oleander bush
On Fri, 10 May 2013 20:22:59 -0400, Norminn wrote:
Is the entire row of bushes accessible from the ground? I'm not sure what you mean, but, yes, I can walk the entire 100-yard length of the oleander bush, if that's what you mean. I can only walk on one side though - as the other side is a cliff-like hill. You can cut them back severely and they do fine. This is good to know since I will be needing to cut at least a foot or two off the sides, and maybe the same amount off the tops. Use the leaves for mulch on azaleas and rhododendrons... healthy for them and less work than bagging. I do have a compost pit that I've been putting all my kitchen scraps in. http://www1.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/12877414.jpg |
#26
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Need a better way to prune the tops of a thick oleander bush
On Fri, 10 May 2013 20:26:13 -0400, Norminn wrote:
Forgot the link: http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu/MG34800.pdf Nice PDF. Interesting that the name comes from looking similar to olive leaves and bay laurel leaves, both of which grow well on my property so I'm intimately familiar with both. You do know that oleanders are poisonous? Interesting that only 10 grams of leaves can kill an animal via an effect similar to that of digitalis. The article says "direct contact with people should be avoided". What does *that* mean? Clearly one wouldn't eat the leaves, although I do suck on a bay laurel leaf or two while hiking. But, what's direct contact. Is trimming 100 yards of tall bush considered direct contact? I certainly hope not. |
#27
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Need a better way to prune the tops of a thick oleander bush
Danny D wrote:
Trimming question ... I made a mistake buying the Echo HC-150 20-inch hedge trimmer: http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/12891035.jpg The trimmer is (way) too small to make the tops flat of my Oleander bush. I can't get the 20-inch blade across the top, while standing on a step ladder, from the one side. The problem is that the other side is wholly inaccessible to a ladder, so I can only trim the top of the bush from one side. http://www1.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/12891079.jpg The Oleander bush is something like five or six feet across, and something like nine or ten feet tall, for something like a few hundred feet along a cliff-like extremely steep hill. I can easily climb up on a step ladder to cut the side, but, I can only lean over about three or four feet across the top with the puny 20-inch 21.2cc hedge trimmer - and even that is risky because one fall could be dangerous with a hedge trimmer (I've already sliced my thigh with the thing in the past). So, I'm mostly asking if there are better ideas for how to cut the top of a tall and thick Oleander bush when you can only access it from one side, and when your trimmer is 20 inches while the bush width is at least three times that. http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/12891105.jpg Any helpful suggestions? Pole-trimming chain saw. https://www.google.com/search?q=pole+trimmer+chain+saw&rlz=1C1PRFB_enUS51 3US513&aq=0&oq=pole+trimming+chain+&aqs=chrome.1.5 7j0l3.8226j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 I got one from HD a couple of years ago; I think I paid about $90. From the ground, I can reach upwards about 20'. It works swell for the jobs between a lopper and a big chain saw and will, no doubt, solve your problem. |
#28
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Need a better way to prune the tops of a thick oleander bush
On 5/11/2013 12:15 AM, Danny D wrote:
On Fri, 10 May 2013 20:26:13 -0400, Norminn wrote: Forgot the link: http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu/MG34800.pdf Nice PDF. Interesting that the name comes from looking similar to olive leaves and bay laurel leaves, both of which grow well on my property so I'm intimately familiar with both. You do know that oleanders are poisonous? Interesting that only 10 grams of leaves can kill an animal via an effect similar to that of digitalis. The article says "direct contact with people should be avoided". What does *that* mean? Clearly one wouldn't eat the leaves, although I do suck on a bay laurel leaf or two while hiking. But, what's direct contact. Is trimming 100 yards of tall bush considered direct contact? I certainly hope not. Contact is touching, eating or breathing - think poison ivy. You might be able to prune without touching, but sure would not dive into the shrub to cut by hand. Chainsaws are nice. From what I have seen around the 'hood in Florida, people tend to allow oleander to become overgrown and then get out the chain saw (usually hired help). They are hard to kill there, and cutting down severely doesn't seem to harm them. As with many other shrubs, cutting out 1/3 of the oldest limbs/branches each year keeps them fairly full and easier to trim. |
#29
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Need a better way to prune the tops of a thick oleander bush
On Sat, 11 May 2013 04:15:35 +0000 (UTC), Danny D
wrote: You do know that oleanders are poisonous? Interesting that only 10 grams of leaves can kill an animal via an effect similar to that of digitalis. The article says "direct contact with people should be avoided". What does *that* mean? Clearly one wouldn't eat the leaves, although I do suck on a bay laurel leaf or two while hiking. Contact with the oils. IIRC white like sap that runs after you cut the branches. Some communities have banned oleanders from being planted. Folks get allergies from them. "...Oleander poisoning occurs when someone sucks nectar from the flowers or chews leaves from the oleander or yellow oleander plant. Poisoning can also happen if you eat honey made by bees that used the oleander plant for nectar." http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/h/oleander-allergy.html |
#30
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Need a better way to prune the tops of a thick oleander bush
On Sat, 11 May 2013 09:14:02 -0400, Norminn wrote:
Contact is touching, eating or breathing - think poison ivy. Hmmm... I have had some experience with chainsawing poison oak, having tunneled through a jungle of the stuff for about 500 linear feet on a steep hillside (cutting a swath about 3 feet wide, leaving overhanging vines about a foot above eye level). I've also trimmed the 300 feet of oleander, about two years ago, (not very successfully though, due to the top of the bush being too high and wide for my puny 20" trimmer). Having said what my experience level is, I wouldn't put them on the same threat level ... But maybe I'm missing something important. |
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