Old timer told me my pruning cuts were "too clean" - changed how I trim deadwood now

Was working a big oak in Chester last month, removing some dead branches. This guy who's been climbing for 30 years walks over and says I'm making my cuts too clean. I was like, isn't that the goal? He said no - on big limbs you want a bit of a stub, not flush with the collar. He showed me his cuts and they looked kinda rough but he said the tree heals better with a little extra left. I've been doing it his way for a few weeks now and honestly the trees don't look as hacked up. Anyone else learn this the hard way?

3 comments

3 Comments

mark_mitchell23d ago

Yeah man, I had the same thing happen to me a few years back. I was out trimming some big maples and this old guy comes up and tells me I'm cutting too close, just like you. I thought he was messing with me at first. But he showed me the difference and I tried it on a couple of dead branches that were kind of close to the trunk. The next season, those cuts had calloused over way cleaner than the flush ones I did before. It felt wrong at first, leaving a little nub, but now I do it every time on anything bigger than my wrist.

hunt.nora14d ago

Did you notice a difference with how fast the tree sealed up? Once I switched to leaving that collar, the healing time got noticeably quicker, especially on oak and maple. Another thing I found is that if you cut at the right angle where the branch meets the trunk, it sheds water better and prevents rot from setting in. It takes some practice to get the angle right without cutting into that collar, but it becomes second nature after a dozen cuts.

scott.jana23d ago

Now you've gone and made me realize I've been butchering trees for YEARS.