Orlando Stump Grinding-How to Prune Tree Branches Correctly? The first step in pruning a tree is to remove any dead, diseased, or broken branches before making any cuts to alter its shape or size. In order to avoid causing further damage to a tree when removing a branch completely, Orlando Stump Grinding recommends making the cut correctly.
You can remove branches as thin as your thumb, or branches with a diameter of 20mm (3/4") or less, with a sharp pair of secateurs or a two-handed pruning lopper. Branches that are thicker can be carefully cut off with a pruning saw. Every branch has a distinct bulge where it connects to the trunk or an older branch, known as the branch collar. As interlocking layers of cells of the branch and trunk, the branch collar plays an important role in healing the wound left by a pruning cut, preventing decay and pathogens from entering. In a correctly made pruning cut, the branch collar is intact and undamaged. In some trees, the branch collars are large and clearly defined, making them easy to see, whereas in others, they may be a bit more difficult to distinguish, but