How to Tie Rope for Trimming Tree Limbs

The art of trimming large tree limbs is more of a science and involves careful planning and safety measures. If you know how to tie up a tree limb, this can work better and be less dangerous when using saws on large branches. It's done through the use of strong rope and arborist knots. Interestingly, some of these knots are also used for climbing trees.

There are thousands of different ways to tie knots, and one used for lowering tree branches is the tied running bowline. Like other more complicated knots, it takes time to learn. You can find tutorials for arborist knots; YouTube and other websites provide videos and text-based tutorials. This one is used to rig tree branches and to fasten ropes to trees that you need to cut down. It functions as a lasso, and the tighter it's pulled, the harder the rope digs into the tree.

For lower branches, the rope is run through the crotch of a strong branch higher than the lower one. The running bowline gets tied approximately 3 inches from where the cut needs to be made and should be snug against the branch. Once the lower branch is cut with a saw, it won't drop to the ground because the rope will keep it suspended in the air. To fell a tree, loop the rope around it and make your running bowline. You can use this versatile knot to fasten trees to equipment for pulling trees that are leaning too much to one side.

There are plenty of other useful knots that are used for similar and different purposes. One of the best ways to haul tree branches is with a taut-line hitch knot. This knot creates an adjustable loop that can slide up and down ropes to loosen or tighten the tension; it locks into place and is great for hauling and hanging things. The clove hitch is a binding knot that secures a rope to objects like poles and trees; it can handle a significant amount of weight to hoist heavy objects.

Tree climbers also use knots to conquer taller specimens, and the tree-climbing knots Prusik method is one of the better-known ways to do it. This method was named after Dr. Karl Prusik back in 1931; he was president of the Austrian Mountaineering Club. These knot loops are made by joining two ends of an accessory cord with a double or triple fisherman's bond. The tree climber can use this knot with a single-rope technique that anchors one end to the base or branch in conjunction with an ascending and descending device or a two-rope method.

Tying a rope around a tree for climbing or felling branches won't kill it as long as it's done correctly with the right equipment. You can use ropes (and wires) to kill trees, and you can do this for various reasons, such as the tree needing to be removed for construction or because it is an invasive species. Either can be tightly wrapped around a tree trunk, and if left there long enough, it will eventually cut into the bark and sever its water vessels. This severing can also happen to a branch if it has a rope swing left on it for an extended period.

Arborist climbing ropes need to be strong enough to support a lot of weight. The best advice is to look for ones that meet American National Standards Institute safety guidelines for arboriculture. These are available for climbers and arborists and come in different strand densities. A 12-strand climbing rope is fine for some tree climbers, while 24-strand ones are twice as strong.