Question
As a new homeowner I notice there was a lot of neglect to the house.  I have a pine tree right next to my house and its needles are starting to fall and the needles might clog the roof drains.  To ensure that the roof drains are not going to be clog, I need to cut at least the top part of the tree because directly above the roof are branches with pine needles.
My questions are:
1. How do you properly cut a pine tree?
2. If I have to cut the top part of the tree, would the tree still survive or is it going to die(a shame)?  
3. If it does not survive with me cutting the top part of the tree, I would have no choice but to remove the tree completely.  What's the proper procedures to cut the pine tree completely?
4. Lastly and most important in terms of safety, is it dangerous to operate a chain saw while on a ladder to cut the tree?  Please don't laugh.

Thank you


Answer
Pines do drop needles--they have two sets of needles-one year old and two year old. The two year old needles are shed each year and are replaced in the spring by new needles. This is probally what you are seeing now. I would STRONGLY suggest you contact the local State Foresry Agency in your area and ask them to take a look at the tree. As far as the cutting questions-- You can not cut the top out of a pine and expect it to live. You can cut the limbs over hanging the house but not the main top leader. Using a chain saw is dangerous work on the ground never mind on a ladder. IF you are not use to using a chainsaw I would not advice this. If the tree is not dying I would not cut it again check with the Forestry folks. Removing a tree near a house can be tricky-- you do not want to cut the tree and it land on the roof. A forester on the ground will be able to give you advice on how to handle this.