I'm hoping to get some advice on helping clean up a broken branch for a friend. I'll be using a Fiskars pole saw to cut off a sheared branch. My concern is trying to predict which way the branch will fall. The plan is to cut off the sheared part first then the main part of the sheared branch. My question is regarding the best place to cut what remains so that I don't get hit or speared by the falling branch. One thought is to cut through the sheared wood at the spot closest to the crotch then cut the remaining wood back to the crotch. A second thought is to make just one cut right at the crotch. The height will be near the limit of the reach of the pole so I'll be pretty close to directly under the branch. The bottom broken branch will be cleared first before working on the upper one. Thanks for indulging such a basic question. Right now I have more enthusiasm for the job than knowledge or experience. Just trying to keep my enthusiasm from getting me in trouble.
On the branch that's peeling off, i would score the bark lightly where it's still connected so that it doesn't peel any further. Then start on the little stuff and work back toward the trunk while keeping a close eye on the movements of the broken branch with every cut. With any luck it might fall on it's own once you get some small stuff off and it starts moving. Its hard to judge by the picture but while i write this I'm thinking it's small enough to cut most the way thru and then grab the small end and start pulling and twisting until it breaks off the rest of the way. That way you're the full length of the branch away from the heavy end when it comes down.
Thank you for the tips. I ended up cutting the 2 broken pieces off first to clear the area then worked on the remaining higher piece. All went well except getting the blade stuck on the upper piece. Somehow when cutting from the top the blade got stuck. I was able to get something high enough in the smaller end branches to pull and release the pressure enough for it to fall out.
