Young House Love

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Limbing Up Trees So You Can See The House Again

Alternate post title: Trees: 0. Sherry: 2.

You might not remember what our first house looked like when we bought it so I’ll remind you:

Front Yard Unclipped

And this is what it looked like five hours after John left and I went crazy with a clipper (surprise!):

Front Yard Clipped

Three cheers for being able to see the house. And we gained a view of the neighborhood from our front windows. You know, instead of the view of a dense “tree fence.” So much better. Plus it was free and gave me a nice little arm workout.

Of course that house’s curb appeal was a pretty constant four and a half year evolution (these things take time) so when we left we finally had it looking like this:

Final Exterior After

Isn’t it amazing what removing some stuff and bringing in some other stuff can do? And we’re huge fans of craigslisting bushes and trees that you don’t need to give them a second life (we post “you dig ’em up and they’re yours for free” ads and people come and do all the work to clear our yard – it’s pretty amazing).

But I digress. Back to this house and my “me vs. tree” tally. I decided to surprise John while he was out picking up these craigslist chairs, so while he was driving to Mechanicsville and back (about an hour and a half round-trip) and Clara was inside napping (miraculous!) I realized I was free to go outside and go crazy on our giant blocks-the-entire-house-and-it’s-all-you-see-out-the-window magnolia.

You think I’m kidding. Here’s the giant ranch-hiding magnolia:

Magnolia Before1

Magnolia Before2

At first we thought we needed to get it taken down (it’s just way too big to be right smack in front of a small ranch, and it blocks so much light). But when my mom visited she recommended that we try limbing it up as an it-can’t-hurt solution to see if we could keep it – at least for a while. So I decided to give it a go. Couldn’t hurt right? Although I was kinda scared my tree tally would end up tied (since the magnolia is a lot more monstrous than the other trees that I tackled by myself at our first house).

Here’s what I used: a Corona branch clipper and a WoodZig hand saw, both from Lowe’s about four years ago.

Magno Clip Saw

And here are my other supplies:

Magnol Phones

A baby monitor, my cell phone, and the house phone. In case Clara woke up, I needed to be ready to drop the clippers and spring into action. And in case John called, I needed to be able to answer the phone and act like I wasn’t outside cutting down giant tree limbs so as not to ruin the surprise. John actually did call a few times so I tried not to sound too out of breath as I hurriedly dragged giant branches to the back of our property (one good thing about having nearly an acre of land is that there’s always a wooded spot in the back for dumping trimmings).

My method was basically to use the branch clipper to get all of the thinner branches that I could reach from the ground (since the clippers were so long they extended my reach quite a bit) and then to use the hand saw while standing on a nice sturdy wrought iron lawn chair (I probably should have gotten the ladder but I’m too wimpy to carry it by myself) to get all of the thicker branches that the clipper couldn’t handle.

The hand saw part of the job was the hardest (it only took about ten minutes to clip all of the low-hanging branches that I wanted to nix, but it took about 15 minutes per giant branch that I had to saw manually. And I tackled three of those for a total of 45 arm-cramping minutes spent sawing away. Oh well, still a better solution than me with a chainsaw (which I’m pretty sure would = death). Plus I am now the proud owner of Arnold Schwarzenegger arms.

Just kidding but how disturbing is that mental picture?

Anyway, the other hardest part of the job was dragging what felt like an entire tree into the back of our lot after trimming everything back (including a few dead boxwoods that I cut out from the front yard’s perimeter while I was at it)…

Magno Clippings

….while panicking that John would pull up mid project or Clara would wake up and start screaming for me. Luckily I got everything to the back just in time to snap a few “progress” photos (let’s face it, they’re most definitely not curb appeal after pics)…

Magnol Tree After

Magnol After2

… and run inside, toss all of my muddy clothes into the wash, and even take a quick shower before Clara woke up and John got home. And since some of my best ideas happen in the shower, it was there that I hatched the plan to videotape John’s arrival (I snickered at the thought of catching that what-the-heck-did-you do look on his cute surprised face). So here it is:

That’s right. He didn’t even notice that the bottom of the magnolia was missing (!!!) because he couldn’t tear his eyes away from his weird wife waiting in the carport with the Flip cam. Foiled. But when he did walk around front to see my handiwork he was definitely shocked and extremely happy that I did all the work without him. Haha. Mission accomplished (I kept saying that all I wanted for my birthday was to limb up the magnolia so I finally made it happen, if not a bit late).

I’m sure our front yard will continue to evolve over the years just like our first house did (we’ve got a long way to go), but for a free 1.5 hour afternoon undertaking, it was totally worth it. Even if only for the light that now floods into the dining room and a view of the neighborhood that we gained (instead of a big old mass o’ leaves out the front windows).

Magno Looking Out

Point: me.

But come to think of it, I did end up with a clipping-related blister:

Legs Blister

So maybe the tree deserves half a point for putting up a good fight.

Psst- We announced this weeks giveaway winners (along with a discount for everyone else). Check it all out here.

Comments

  3. Sewview says

    Ok, I haven’t read the post yet, so you can totally delete this. Just had an urge to be the first comment here. (Plus you guys work hard to make your house a home, and I admire that a lot. Working with your hands, yeah! (Imagine whatsisname from WordGirl.)

    Reply

    • Jessica Z. says

      Totally had to comment here — I get the WordGirl theme song stuck in my head (along with the Dinosaur Train theme song) and walk around the house singing it. It cracks my husband up that I get so excited about the PBS Kids line-up. I swear my little girl doesn’t watch too many cartoons, but sometimes we both just need a half hour of zone-out time, you know? ;)

    • Mindy says

      LOL I like that show too. I tend to sing the “hip hip horray” song… And yes, Dinosaur Train…lol Oh boy. Sherry, you rock. I’m super impressed! Your Sharnold arms look great! ;)

  5. Kate Battle says

    Oh my goodness Sherry, I did the same thing last spring with a huge pine that was hiding our mailbox and blocking the view from our drive! (pictures on my blog: http://retroranchrevamp.com/2010/09/06/peek-a-box/ )

    and we also took out a ton of shrubs and trees so you could see our house from the street! ( http://retroranchrevamp.com/2010/09/07/the-great-front-yard/)

    It is a totally different feeling to get more light and a different view! Wait till the neighbors start cheering you on! I’m almost ready to tackle the back yard! Plus, yeah I got pretty buff with all the sawing, digging and chopping!

    Reply

  7. Megan says

    What a difference a couple of hours and a saw makes! When we moved into our place last year it took us 8 hours over the course of a day to make our property look like someone actually lived there (the previous owners neglected it, due to their age).

    A week later we had some man stop by while we were mowing the lawn to tell us how ‘great’ and ‘updated’ the house looked.

    Point = us!

    Reply

  10. Mariana says

    I’m at work and I just let out a whopping laugh over that Sharnold picture! I think I hear some footsteps approaching from some curious (or concerned) co-workers!

    Reply

  12. Nichole@40daysof says

    Wow! It looks awesome!

    On a more somber note: have you looked into when it’s best to trim trees in your area? I know that here in North Texas, the early spring can be a dangerous time, since this is when diseases are rampant and can take up residence in the fresh cuts. But I’ve never lived in Virginia, and every zone is different. Also the dangerous disease times of year can be different for different trees.

    It’s too funny that he didn’t even notice. :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Ooh good point. I’ve trimmed back lots of trees (including magnolias) in the spring here in VA, so I’m crossing my fingers that this big guy can handle it.

      xo,
      s

  13. Ches says

    Go Sherry, its your birthday (well was ur birthday)! Looks great. I have yet to tackle trimming up the Bradford Pear tree in our front yard.

    Reply

  14. Jenny B says

    Way to go! We just bought a 45 year old house with a ton of random (some good, some not so good) plantings and trees. We took out a bigggg Crepe Myrtle that was entirely too close to the house & completely blocked the view out the family room windows. The difference is amazing. Although, my grandmother had a hissy fit when we cut it down! Oh well-we have to do what works for us, right?

    Reply

  18. Barb says

    YOU ARE WOMAN…..HEAR YOU ROAR!!!

    Curb appeal is so important and you nailed it, Sherry. So proud of you! It looks great.

    Am trying to convince my husband that all I want for my birthday is to paint the red bricks of our fireplace white to match the mantle. So far, he is not on board. Any thoughts for convincing him? I could do it while he is at work….yes I could!!!

    B.

    Thanks for friending me on FB.

    Reply

  22. karen @ our slo house says

    It looks so good! I’m impressed that you tackled such big tree limbs by yourself. (And SO impressed that Clara took a long-enough nap for you to do it all + take a shower!! Murphy from Murphy’s Law must have been asleep…) :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I know – it was nothing short of amazing! The girl rarely naps for over an hour in the morning, so to eke out nearly an hour and forty five minutes was amazing.

      xo,
      s

  25. Leslie says

    Were you wearing gloves? Sometimes even through the gloves you can get a blister or two…especially when one is working as furiously as you evidently were. That’s a lot of tree trimming for 1.5 hours!

    Reply

  27. Jenny says

    How did you know which branches and limbs to remove without harming the tree? I’ve read you can actually kill a tree by cutting down certain parts.
    Looks much better however!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I’ve limbed up many a tree (including a few magnolias) in the spring, so I just did what worked for me before: cut back all the branches below a certain point as close to the trunk as possible (so there weren’t big nubs all around the trunk) with a nice sharp blade (which gives you a nice crisp and clean cut, which is best). Since it was only about 10% of the tree that I took off (maybe ten small branches and three large thicker ones that hung down to the ground) the tree didn’t seem to even notice. Maybe try googling for tree trimming tips if you want a bit more info though? Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  29. Kate B says

    Okay, no lie, the Sharnold picture creeps me out a bit.

    The tree looks FABULOUS though! It looks like a tree now, rather than a large bush or hedge.

    Reply

  30. Paige says

    oh wow–awesome.

    I love how you do surprise projects…that’s totally something I would do (and have done) if I were in your shoes. You get that nervous/excited feeling, crossing your fingers that they will like it/be proud/be impressed/at least be indifferent. It’s kind of a rush.

    Reply

  31. Katrina says

    So, does John ever surprise you with DIY projects? You’ve surprised him with the bathroom towel bars, the tree trimming, and the light painting (among others), but I can’t recall one project that John sprung on you!

    Love the effect – so much better. I’m completely jealous of your green grass and sun dappled lawn. Oh, for the snow to be totally melted and for there not to be the prediction for another snow storm tomorrow. Sigh. I can’t wait to get my hands dirty in our new yard!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I think when I’m gone John likes to kick back and relax. Haha. And he knows I get a rush out of being the surpriser (but being the surprisee might be risky if I don’t like what he does- haha).

      xo,
      s

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, I actually meant to write foiled. You know like in the cartoons when Elmer Fudd is foiled again by that rascally rabbit? I know, I’m weird.

      xo,
      s

  34. Willow says

    I have to be honest, the second picture is by far my most favorite, but then trees happen to be my most favorite thing on the planet. (:

    Reply

  35. Michelle says

    The change is drastic! It looks so much better now. I hope that you guys are able to make peace with that tree now that the lower branches have been trimmed. I would hate to see it come down.

    Reply

  37. Sheryl says

    Watch out for a return engagement on the boxwoods. If you don’t get all the roots (ALL THE ROOTS)it will come back again and again and again. My husband and I dug one up three years ago and I’m still fighting it.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yeah, I just did a quick job on those so I’ll have to go back in and really dig them up. Lots more to do outside so I’m sure I’ll be getting muddy again soon!

      xo,
      s

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We don’t use that stuff (babies and dogs running around makes us anti pesticide) but we’ll dig those babies out the old fashioned way. Haha. You know I like a good arm workout!

      xo,
      s

  38. Lori @ Richmond, BABY! says

    Great job Sherry! I’m a fan of butchering overgrown trees. I went to town on one outside of our house last year and my hubs surprise was a little less enthusiastic than John’s, ha. He hated it, but it has grown over the past year and looks a lot better this year! :)

    Reply

  39. Alicia says

    Good job! I don´t think the tree will get ill, it would resist, it’s a big one and it seems to be healthy. A magnolia is a beautiful tree, so please, don´t take it down! Your garden will smell wonderful in summer!

    Reply

  40. Emily says

    The video is hilarious. I love the slightly bewildered look on John’s face when you admit to climbing on a chair to get the higher branches. Priceless! :)

    Reply

  41. Ashleigh says

    It looks marvelous, and you definitely were a busy bee…You got a lot done in such a short amount of time. I’m hoping to have the same progress in my yard soon. We are almost to the stage of finishing up the inside projects, so then it will be the task of conquering the outdoors.

    Reply

  42. Shunta says

    Sherry!!! Wow! I wish there was a video of you doing that, such a big difference! I’m SO impressed. And I believe Clara must be totally in sync with the DIY/Home decor aspect of your lives. She always seems to nap extra during big projects!!

    Reply

  44. Cara says

    Looks great! So fresh and so clean clean! :)

    I just love magnolias with their big fat evergreen leaves – and I can’t even fathom the value of yours. We just paid almost $200 for one of the “teddy bear” (aka miniature) variety to be installed in our garden. Props to you for saving your beautiful tree and making it work!

    Reply

  45. dana828 says

    Love it! Surprising my husband with projects is my favorite way to go…usually because if I tell him about it beforehand, he tries to talk me out of it. Just the other day I finally took down the gawd-awful scalloped wood trim piece that was bridging our kitchen cabinets on either side of the window…did it while he was at work, then just waited for him to notice. Four hours later I finally had to point it out to him! Men!

    Reply

  46. nancyo says

    Hey

    What did you do with all of the branches and shrubs?

    I compost but my collection of sticks & branches is becoming quick substantial now since I just attacked the jungle in my backyard. I use to single “Welcome to the Jungle…” everytime I would give someone a tour. I guess I’ll have to change my song now :/

    I called Home Depot but they only rent large chippers. I’m looking for like a 3″-4″ chipper & Shredder without dishing out big money. I’ve been looking on CL. My city only collects branches/trees that are tied up.

    Do you have any suggestions on the shrubbery/branches?

    What do you do with them?

    Reply

  48. lesismore says

    wait, was your birthday on the 30th? mines the 29th! i wish i had been as motivated to do something so great on my birthday but being 9.75 months pregnant, i’m just not up for such an adventure.
    i think it looks so much better! perhaps you won’t have to take it down after all. but in the fall you’ll probably wish you did with all those big fat leaves falling all over the yard. (our neighbor has one and i’m constantly picking them up out of our yard)
    p.s. i got the “foiled” reference. i often say, “drat, foiled again!” okay, i don’t but i think i might start!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      My bday was actually the on 19th. I was a little late hitting my tree trimming goal. Haha. Well, only by about a week. But happy birthday to you! And congrats on the bun in the oven!

      xo,
      s

  50. Leanne says

    It looks awesome Sherry! Here’s a tip – you should totally invest in a sawzall. It’s name pretty much tells the story: saws all :) I didn’t even know what this was until I met my boyfriend, a contractor. Small and less and intimidating than a chainsaw, you can buy different blades for different applications and can cut almost ANYTHING. I’m so paranoid of power tools, but have actually used it (myself!) for several projects around my house. Here’s one I just found on amazon for a reasonable price: http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-6509-22-Sawzall-Amp-Reciprocating/dp/B0000789HE

    Reply

    • Kristin says

      Once on a visit to see my best friend around Halloween, we carved pumpkins with a sawzall. Fastest pumkin carving I’ve ever done, but it’s not exactly a precision instrument for that particular purpose. :)

    • Becky S. says

      The tree looks great! What an improvement!
      My husband just bought a sawzall with a bunch of different blade types and he is actually encouraging me to use it!! This is something he would never do with a chainsaw because like you, Sherry, me using a chainsaw = almost certain death. So, unless my hubby is trying to off me than I think a sawzall must be pretty easy to use. Can’t wait to get some nice weather up here in Massachusetts to try it out!

    • Elizabeth says

      That looks like a really cool tool! And it has a five star rating after 99 reviews! May have to add that to my wish list.

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