[fatlazyless]

For about forty dollars or less, Wal-Mart has a Remington electric 12" chainsaw that's light enough to be duct-taped & screwed to an 18' long, 2x4 stud, and a long extension cord, and you can use it to trim the branches while standing on the ground. I have successfully done used this rig on a six inch thick oak limb.....no kidd'n around here....and lived to tell about it......timberrrr-r-r.....those limbs sure do come down quick once they get cut through, though....so head's up...

The Remington 12' electric is surprisingly durable....it takes a serious beating and keeps on running....including a number of smack-down falls onto the lawn from high up a tree while attached to the 18' 2x4 handle.

For an extra challenge....maybe try saw'n the 18'er length wise, and reattach itself to build it out to about a 33' extension 2x2... for some extra long reach up to those higher branches, while still operat'n safely from the ground....where you can run like hell when the cut through limb and the saw comes down very fast. A single 2x4 or a 2x2 scab-attached together is surprisingly strong and springy.