Often fellow tree growers or tree lot customers ask about the products we are using, so we thought we would share our favorites! Many products are really helpful in general, not just for tree growers, and they are conveniently available on Amazon with links below. All products are not only well rated by us but well rated on Amazon, and we feature items which are durable and long-lasting without costing a fortune. Happy shopping!
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Hand Pruners We use hand pruners for 8 hours/day for about 2.5 weeks during wreath making season and periodically throughout the summer months with the shearing crew, and of the multiple hand pruners we have used, these are our top picks from Amazon: Felco F5: The brand that all others are compared, Felco hand pruners should last you a lifetime. At Amazon's 4.7 stars, I have found this model of Felco pruner to be the most economical while still getting the job done. There are replacement parts available as well but with limited use will likely be unnecessary. My crew and I use this pruner on a daily basis when trimming Christmas trees and can go 4-5 years without considering a replacement blade. If you are willing to spend a bit more, a 4.8-star Felco F2 is available. |
Heather's honorable mention: The Kotto multitool set is very economical and contains four types of hand pruners. My favorite in the set is a heavy-duty pruner which cuts larger branches with ease.
Long reach pruner: My crew and I use many long-reach pruners while trimming larger trees. This particular model is very heavy duty and will not break even while cutting larger branches.
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Electronics Blue Parrot B450XT Headset: I receive calls frequently throughout the day, so whether I am riding in my truck or out in the field, this headset has been very helpful. It has not only freed my hands while talking but also is great for cancelling background noise, such as the noise of my truck, which in the past had made it difficult for callers to hear me when on the road. I tried the cheaper model (B350) and although good, the B450XT is more durable and definitely worth the slightly higher cost. DJI Mini 2 Combo: When we asked a local videographer about drone options, he was quick to recommend DJI. This is a good starter drone with high quality videos and pictures. This particular model is more economical than other options. The only drawback is it does not have anti-collision sensors so you need to be aware of where the drone is at all times. The videos are easy to edit including adding text, music, or other special features. Check out our website for videos we have produced using this great product!
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Wreathmaking products Glitter: Krylon Glitter Blast works great to give a bit of sparkle to the decorative items we sell at Tree City. Waterproof Sealant: We did a mini research project with different types of spray sealant for the berries we use on our wreaths, and Thompson’s water seal was the clear winner! We even went so far as to spritz the berries with water and place them overnight in the freezer to ensure we delivered a quality, lasting product to our customers. Antifatigue mat: This is a must-have for extended standing at the wreath making workstations over the concrete garage floors! Although we used some mats we obtained second hand, this linked antifatigue mat is a top-rated Amazon mat. |
Protective gear
Forester chainsaw apron chaps with pocket: If you plan to use a chainsaw you need to have the proper protective gear. It is easy to inadvertently move the chainsaw towards your leg if you are concentrating on making the cut. It is best to have the proper protection.
Wells Lamont work gloves: These VERY economical gloves ($4.96 for 5 pairs of gloves as of today) are suitable for most work. They provide grip while keeping your hands warm. However, these gloves will not keep your hands warm in extreme cold.
Einskey sun hat: There is an endless supply of sun hats on the market to choose from but if you have a large head, this sun hat is the most comfortable when you have to use it day after day up to 10 hours a day. I can get 2-3 years out of one but that is after hundreds of hours of use.
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General Leatherman: If you are always working away from your shop or garage and you need a tool readily available, you must have a multi-tool with you at all times. I use mine many times a day. There are many different models. Just get the tool that will best fit your needs. 10 gallon cooler: This works well if you need to have a large volume of water or other beverages available for work or recreation. |
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Makita cordless tools Back in 2018 after a Christmas tree season, I decided that it was time to switch to a cordless chainsaw on the tree lot. I wanted something more versatile and quiet. At this time battery-operated chainsaws had become more powerful, had a longer battery life, and were more economical. Although in the field our go-to are Stihl chainsaws, Makita has worked great at the tree lot. After researching models, the Makita brand had strong reviews so I chose to purchase the package that included everything I needed to get started. It had the saw, 4 batteries and the charger. I was happy with this chainsaw so as of 2021, I have 3 cordless chainsaws. |
After purchasing the first chainsaw, when I needed other cordless tools, I went with Makita as well since the other tools used the same batteries. Being able to use the same batteries for all the tools is very convenient and economical.
Makita cordless inflator: I needed a more portable tool for inflating tires and also to inflate a portable air tank that I use to blow pollen, dust, and weed seeds from the radiators of my tractors when doing work in the fields. It works well. You can set the desired air pressure and the tool will stop when that pressure is reached. The only drawback is that the trigger to start the tool needs to be constantly held to keep the tool blowing air. Otherwise, I have been very happy with this product.
Makita battery-operated blower: I was looking for a quieter leaf blower to use at the tree lot. This tool is not only quieter but is very convenient to use and works just as well as a gas-powered hand-held leaf blower. There are 6 settings for the strength of air being blown. At the highest setting, it does use a lot of battery power and the batteries need to be exchanged more frequently, but overall this has worked well for us.
Makita battery-operated chainsaws: I purchased 3 different models of chainsaws. All 3 have worked well for us. They may not quite have the power of a gas-powered saw but get the job done in a convenient and quiet manner. There are many different models to choose from so first decide what kind of work you will be doing and then find the model that will best suit your needs. These are the 3 that we have purchased:
Makita cordless drill: There are many cordless drills on the market. This one uses the same batteries that I already have and was rated well. It has plenty of power to perform the more heavy-duty projects around the tree farm.
What are your favorite products? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below!