Cutting high sides of hedges (over 4m)

[Treeation]

On 8/13/2017 at 15:47, Steve Bullman said:

I would have thought with those height ladders and the stihl extendable battery trimmers you should be able to about manage it.  Is there absolutely no way of getting a mewp in?  You can get some pretty small tracked units with 10 meter reach 

Hi Steve, is there any particular tracked mewp you would recommend for tight access?

 

[Mark Bolam]

I've done all that crazy surfing malarky in the past, I wouldn't bother now. Risk vs. Reward.

 

To my mind if people want massive hedges that's fine, but they should be be willing to both pay and provide access for HSE compliant techniques to maintain them.

 

God I'm getting old....

[Mick Dempsey]

No, you're right Mark, A big long hedge will cost as much to maintain per annum as a medium priced family holiday.

 

Plus the clippings are difficult to dispose of. 

 

I hate them and rarely do them these days.

 

 

[Rich Rule]

Is the any way you could get a triple extension ladder, take of the top extension and tie it across the top of the extended double section in a 'T' shape.?

 

The ladder can just be leaned into the hedge without fear of falling through.  I would have though standard long reach trimmer would be man enough for the job.  Yes, you have to move the ladder a fair bit but it is generally a stable platform to work from.

 

41m though, rather you than me.  I get pins and needles in the hands and forearms after about 15 minutes of using a hedge cutter.  That is why I don't do too many of them these days...  but, I have probably done a fair few in my time.

 

Can I ask though?  When you quoted for the job did you not work out how to do it?  or was the job just dropped on you?

[nepia]

4 hours ago, Mark Bolam said:

I've done all that crazy surfing malarky in the past, I wouldn't bother now. Risk vs. Reward.

 

To my mind if people want massive hedges that's fine, but they should be be willing to both pay and provide access for HSE compliant techniques to maintain them.

 

God I'm getting old....

I'm already old and getting crotchety with it!  'Very nice but no-one thought about how it was going to be maintained did they' seems not to be what the client wants to hear.  I've come round to the 'sod 'em; pay lots or find another mug' attitude. I'd rather not bust my balls on big hedges but if I do I want paying for the pleasure.

[Treeation]

3 hours ago, Rich Rule said:

Is the any way you could get a triple extension ladder, take of the top extension and tie it across the top of the extended double section in a 'T' shape.?

 

The ladder can just be leaned into the hedge without fear of falling through.  I would have though standard long reach trimmer would be man enough for the job.  Yes, you have to move the ladder a fair bit but it is generally a stable platform to work from.

 

41m though, rather you than me.  I get pins and needles in the hands and forearms after about 15 minutes of using a hedge cutter.  That is why I don't do too many of them these days...  but, I have probably done a fair few in my time.

 

Can I ask though?  When you quoted for the job did you not work out how to do it?  or was the job just dropped on you?

Hi Rich, just in quoting process and trying to get a battle plan together!

[daveatdave]

a alloy tower or a 1 mt shaft extension with something like a set of henchman steps 

[drinksloe]

If u have good access from 1 side would it be possible to use a  more normal cherry picker and boom it across the hedge top, and even possibly down?

[Vespasian]

Might be a good idea to get a scaffold tower, bit of pain moving it along but better than ladders..

[Treeation]

1 hour ago, drinksloe said:

If u have good access from 1 side would it be possible to use a  more normal cherry picker and boom it across the hedge top, and even possibly down?

Im not sure, to be honest ive never cut a hedge using a mewp. The hedge is 7m wide though so might be an issue! Going to meet a local access hire engineer on site to discuss best line of attack!