Year-Round Gardening
Tree Pruning Tips
Season 2 Episode 3 | 3m 5sVideo has Closed Captions
Learn the dos & don'ts of pruning trees.
Pruning trees need not be an intimidating process, though it's crucial to avoid cuts that can hurt your tree. Tom Butzler from Penn State extension walks you through the dos and don'ts and demonstrates the tried and true "three-cut method" for branch removal.
Year-Round Gardening
Tree Pruning Tips
Season 2 Episode 3 | 3m 5sVideo has Closed Captions
Pruning trees need not be an intimidating process, though it's crucial to avoid cuts that can hurt your tree. Tom Butzler from Penn State extension walks you through the dos and don'ts and demonstrates the tried and true "three-cut method" for branch removal.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipHi, I'm Tom Butler, and in this edition of Year Round Gardening, we'll talk about pruning mature trees.
I'll show you the benefits of pruning, the proper way to cut branches and more.
Let's take a look.
When a tree reaches maturity, you'll really only need the prune to manage risk of disease.
Clear branches from infrastructure, deal with st... and other similar situations.
When you run into these kind of scenarios, proper pruning will help preserve and protect the tree's natural form.
Cutting a tree limb incorrectly can cause the weight of the branch to tear the bark off the tree, resulting in a larger wound.
This improper cut damages the tree's protective layer, making it more susceptible to infections and decay.
And additionally, a larger wound takes longer to heal, compromising the tree's, structural integrity and overall health.
Proper pruning techniques such as the three cut method are essential to avoid these issues and ensure the tree's longevity.
Before we start any pruning activity on branches, it is important to recognize the role and function of the branch collar.
The branch collar is the swollen area where a branch joins the trunk of a tree.
This region contains specialized cells that help heal wounds and prevent the cave by forming callous tissue over pruning cuts.
Preserving the branch collar during pruning is crucial because it facilitates quicker wound closure and protects the tree from infections and other damage.
Proper pruning techniques ensure the branch collar remains intact, promoting the trees, long-term health and structural stability.
There are several types of pruning cuts that can be used on trees depending on what you are trying to achieve.
What we will talk about today is a branch removal.
Cut.
This cut eliminates branches at their origin while retaining a branch collar.
Use the three cut method to remove large branches safely.
Make an initial cut on the underside of the branch to prevent bark tearing.
Make a second cut further out to remove the weight.
Finally, make a clean cut at the branch collar to ensure quick wound closure.
And if the proper cut is made over time, a callous will form over the wound.
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