It depends what you are pruning, but I wouldn't use electric. Hand sawing takes a lot of work, but at least you won't be making any unnecessary cuts. I use a chain saw for bigger limbs, but each to their own. It depends what you are comfortable with but dragging around a cord can be cumbersome. I know because I painted my house last year.

Here is a link that might be useful: Propagating Perennials

If you have a LOT of pruning, and your control over the electric saw is good, then I might use both. I would use the hand-held where fine control is needed or the branch isn't too big, but being careful about nicking an adjacent branch you want to keep - I might use the hand-saw on the last little bit in that case - and the electric for the rest. Since you say it is neither a chainsaw nor a hedge-trimmer, it sounds like it could do the job (most of it, anyway).

Sorry, I should have said I am pruning shrubs and tree branches. Below is a link to the type of electric saw I have. It is battery powered. I do have one large tree branch that will be coming off with a chain saw, too.

So, the concern with the electric saw is that you could inadvertently make a cut you didn't intend in a neighboring branch? There is no issue with the actual quality of the cut it will make when it is done well?

Thanks...pm2

Here is a link that might be useful: Electric Hand saw

Sawzall...or the likeness thereof. Best electric tool ever made. Use a short pruning blade for better control. This tool is pretty good at cleaning up roots too, not mention nails, and......

I've not used such a saw on branches, but would see no reason why it won't work. My main concern, without having used it, would be to make sure the weight of a larger branch can't bind down on the blade - the motor might overheat in those circumstances. I would cut any largish branches, where possible, from the top side, and with larger branches use the 3-point-cut system, making cut #1 on the underside of the branch, a few inches beyond where I intend for the final cut to be, and cutting only half way or less through the branch, then make cut #2 out a few inches from there, cutting all the way through from the top - the half-cut from #1 allows the branch to sag without binding, and if it rips off under its own weight, a strip of bark is not torn off, running down the trunk. The final cut, #3, is to take off the stub, and should be made just about level with the branch collar, or barely into it. Having a helper, to lend a hand with larger branches and with keeping them well supported while you cut, would also be a help.

I would also stop to clean sap off the blade every so often, and keep a spray bottle of alcohol to disinfect the blade between trees/shrubs, just so you don't spread any possible disease or fungus from one to another.

My only other advice is to follow the accepted "good pruning" practices - which you probably already know, but to repeat - cut only after looking over the tree or shrub carefully to decide the needed cuts; take dead and crossing branches first; look from all sides before taking off a large branch; and if in doubt, wait for a while or another day to make up your mind - gluing branches back on is NOT an option! And you can decide to do only half of what you think REALLY NEEDS to be done now, live with it and do the rest another time - it's only you that is deciding how much is enough, too much or not enough, after all.... Also remember to try to take off no more than a quarter to a third of the canopy of any tree or shrub in any one growing season, unless you decide to take it all the way to the ground and start over again.

Roses may not be the specific shrub you had in mind but there was a study done not too many years ago comparing hand pruning of roses (very time consuming if you have more than a few and with rather precise methodology) to pruning with an electric saw or small chainsaw. The conclusion was that the electric pruning resulted in just as lush growth and profuse flowering, if not more, as did the more refined hand pruning. By midseason it was difficult to determine which bushes received which treatment.

Anything that makes gardening easier while still achieving the same successful results is worth serious consideration :-))

hey

i have found .. over time.. short of large tree work ...

that hand tools are a lot safer .. and slower ... speed is usually NOT of the essence in pruning ...

the best saw i ever bought ... is the TYPE at the link below ... i can get them on special at tractor supply in the $10 buck range ... each side of the blade has an opposing set of teeth ... i can go through a 2 inch branch in less than ten strokes ... probably 5 ...

and always chart out in your head.. where the branch is going to fall .. BEFORE you cut ... with pruning of large stock ... it is always helpful to have a second set of eyes.. and extra pair of hands .. to help guide the fall ...

all to often ... it is hard to get yourself situated in a safe position where you can saw safely .. and allow the piece to fall safely .. add power tools to the equation ... and your risk increases exponentially ...

and the last word of wisdom ... no where is it written that one cut is better than ten cuts ... you can always cut more.. you can not put it back ... and it is near impossible to fix injury to the tree [if its fixable.. the tree will fix it, itself] ... if you have a 6 foot branch to remove ... cut the top 2 feet off.. then the next two .. and then .. you get the idea ..

good luck

be safe...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: amleo.com

Wow, what a lot of great advice! More than I expected. All tips that will help me a lot. Personally, I would prefer using the hand saw and not the electric, but I won't be doing most of the pruning and the person helping me loves power tools, so I wanted to resolve how I felt about it before pruning day. :-) Looks like there isn't any reason for me to insist on the hand saw, but to pass along the precautions.

Thanks all...thanks ken :-)

pm2

if you have FREE HELP ....

leave the work to them .. but insist on being in charge of the procedure ... be the foreman/forewoman ...

good luck

ken

Yes, Ken, free help is WON-DER-FUL! lol I feel very lucky to have it!

:-)

The only reason I like power saws is that I tend to make more cuts when I'm using an electric saw, since it goes faster and is less wearing on the hands/arms. So, if I'm taking off alarge branch, I cut it in more, smaller chunks when I'm plugged in. Making all those extra cuts with a hand saw is just too much work, but that method seems to cause fewer injuries - to the plant and its neighbors, as well as the person doing the work.