Basic Pruning Techniques

Excerpted from How to Grow Practically Everything
Filed under: Trees, Pruning, How To

Make an Undercut First

Take some weight off the branch first to prevent it tearing close to the trunk. Cut partly through the underside of the branch; then saw from the top a little further up. Allow the branch to snap off.

Make Undercut on Branch First Before Pruning

Cut Close to Trunk

Remove the final stump by cutting close to the trunk, but not flush with it. Make an angled cut away from the tree, just beyond the crease in the bark where the branch meets the trunk.

Allow the Wound to Heal

The result is a clean cut that leaves the tree’s healing tissue intact, speeding up its recovery. The wound may bleed after pruning, but will soon form a layer of protective bark.