The linden tree at the back of the yard has dead branches reaching above the garage roof, and the only way in is the pedestrian gate on the side of the house. Or the holly hedge has grown into a row of trees, the ground slopes, and the only access is across the lawn. In either case, a truck-mounted boom lift won't fit, scaffolding is out of the question, and working on a ladder at that height is not safe.
Why working height changes everything
Up to the height a skilled operator can comfortably reach from a stepladder, pruning is a precision job with both hands free. Above that height, the problem is no longer the cut itself: it's the operator's position. Someone balancing on a ladder doesn't have both hands free, can't use a chainsaw safely, and can't move along a branch without climbing down and back up. Every repositioning wastes time, and every unstable position is a real hazard.
A bucket resolves this situation at the root: the operator stands on a stable platform with both hands available, and moves through the canopy while remaining secured at all times. For a closer look at the regulations governing work at height on trees, see Pruning tall trees: rules and correct practices.
Two ways to reach the canopy
The first option is a truck-mounted boom lift. It reaches considerable heights, the lateral reach is wide, and it works well on paved roads. The problem is access: it needs a wide opening, a solid and level surface to stabilize the outriggers, and maneuvering room that rarely exists in private yards, historic parks, or condominium courtyards. When the gate is pedestrian-only or the ground slopes and is uneven, this option is off the table before you even start.
The second option is a tracked aerial work platform. It fits through any opening a wheelbarrow can pass, because the undercarriage is compact and can be steered even in tight spaces. The tracks adapt to uneven ground and distribute the weight without sinking into the lawn or worked soil. Once in position, the stabilizers level the machine even on a slope, and from there the arm rises and extends laterally to reach the canopy. Access remains the limiting factor: if the opening can't be navigated even on foot with a narrow machine, there is no mechanical solution. But in every case where the yard is reachable on foot, this machine gets in.
What to check before choosing the machine
Working height and lateral reach are the first two figures to confirm for the specific tree, not in the abstract. Height is the distance from the ground to the part of the branch that needs to be reached; reach is how far the machine must stand from the trunk to avoid damaging surface roots or edging around the tree. The two values together define the working geometry, and not all platforms cover them in the same way.
The bucket must be large enough to hold the operator with their tools, but not so wide that it becomes impossible to get close to the canopy. A small bucket limits the number of attachments that can be carried; one that is too large won't fit between the branches.
For large removed branches, lowering also needs to be planned. A crane arm with a grapple kit allows logs to be lowered to the ground in a controlled manner, without dropping them — the right approach when flower beds, paved surfaces, or people are below. Without this attachment, the work is done by roping down, which requires a second operator on the ground and more time.
In the Cormidi lineup
The Cormidi tracked aerial work platforms are spider machines that pass through a narrow gate and stabilize on uneven ground using leveling outriggers. The KB20 and the KB23 carry the bucket, the underbridge arm, and the crane with log grapple kit and winch kit: the same machine that lifts the operator into the canopy can lower branches to the ground without manual roping. The KB11 is instead mounted on the CMF multi-purpose machine base and covers lower heights, suited to yards where the trees are not particularly tall but access remains the main challenge.
What to check before calling the dealer
Measure the height of the branches to be reached and the distance from the point where the machine can be positioned. Check the width of the narrowest access opening along the route from the road to the work area. Assess whether the ground is load-bearing or soft, and whether the gradient is significant. Finally, determine whether the removed branches need to be lowered in a controlled manner or whether there is room to drop them safely: this determines whether the crane kit is needed or whether the bucket alone is sufficient. With this information on hand, your local dealer can recommend the right configuration without guesswork.
