Milwaukee M18 Pruning Saw: Yard Cleanup + Fire Pit Prep
Winter damage can leave shrubs and trees sagging and split. Here’s a quick, practical pass at cleaning up a lilac and prepping an old backyard fire pit for its replacement.
What you’ll get: simple pruning moves, safer teardown steps, and tool comparisons that save time.
Tools & Materials
Why switch tools for pruning
If you’ve been using a recip saw for branches, you’re fighting the cut. The Milwaukee M18 Pruning Saw tracked straight and sliced cleanly on lilac limbs that had been bent and broken by snow. Less vibration means fewer chewed ends and faster cuts.
Tip: Let the saw’s chain do the work. Don’t muscle it—support the branch, start the cut on the compression side, and keep a steady feed.
Cleanup order that prevents headaches
- Start with broken, hanging limbs first to remove bind and weight.
- Work from the outside in, taking smaller branches before larger ones so nothing snaps unpredictably.
- Stage brush into uniform lengths for easier hauling later.
Comparison: A Ryobi Sawzall can do it, but expect more bounces and jams on green wood. The pruning saw stayed planted and made quick work of each branch.
Safe teardown for an old fire pit
- Clear the perimeter: move logs/footstools and stones out of the work path before prying anything up.
- Remove loose branches and debris so you’re not tripping while you lift blocks or stones.
- Leave heavy hauling for when you have the right mover (a wheelbarrow makes it efficient and safer for your back).
Warning: Stones around fire pits can shift. Lift with a stable stance and keep fingers out from under edges.
Staging for the rebuild
- Stack stones and logs in separate, accessible piles so you can reuse or dispose quickly.
- Keep a clear pad where the new fire pit will go; the less clutter now, the faster next weekend’s build starts.
Bottom line: For yard cleanup on storm-bent shrubs, the Milwaukee M18 Pruning Saw is the right tool for clean, controlled cuts—and a tidy site today makes the upcoming fire pit project smoother and safer.
