By TreesAreGood®
International Society of Arboriculture
TreesAreGood Steps Pruning Cut (2021-04-19) by Bryan Kotwica and Shawna ArmstrongTreesAreGood®
Removing a Large Limb
If a large limb is to be removed, its weight should first be reduced.
Step 1:
1. Make an undercut about 12–18 inches (30 –46 cm) from the limb’s point of attachment.
Step 2:
2. Make a second cut from the top, directly above or a few inches farther out on the limb. Doing so removes the limb, leaving a stub.
Step 3:
3. Remove the stub by cutting back to the branch collar. This technique reduces the possibility of tearing the bark.
Making Proper Pruning Cuts
A correct pruning cut removes the branch just outside of the collar. Do not make cuts flush to the trunk. Trunk tissues above and below a flush-cut branch often die, creating dead spots. If a collar has grown out on a dead limb, make the cut just beyond the collar. Do not cut the collar.
Cleaning
Cleaning is the removal of dead, dying, diseased, weakly attached, and low-vigor branches from the crown of a tree.
Raising
Raising removes the lower branches from a tree to provide clearance for buildings, vehicles, pedestrians, and vistas.
Reduction
Reduction reduces the size of a tree, often for utility line clearance. Reducing a tree’s height or spread is best accomplished by pruning back the leaders and branch terminals to secondary branches that are large enough to assume the terminal roles (at least one-third the diameter of the cut stem). Compared to topping, reduction helps maintain the tree’s form and structural integrity.
Reducing Density
Reducing density of foliage at the crown periphery (previously called thinning) is sometimes performed to increase wind or light penetration for aesthetic reasons and to promote interior foliage development.
How Much Should Be Pruned?
The amount of live tissue that should be removed depends on the tree’s size, species, age, and pruning objectives. Younger trees tolerate the removal of a higher percentage of living tissue better than mature trees. Generally, no more than 25% of the crown should be removed at once, and less for mature trees.
Wound Dressing
Research has shown that dressings do not reduce decay, speed up wound closure, or prevent insect and disease infestations. Most experts recommend not using wound dressings.
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