Necessary Pruning for Beginners Part 2

So, in the previous post we talked about removing suckers from your tree. You are completely capable of doing two other kinds of pruning cuts on your small or ornamental trees. So grab your pruners and read on.

First, if a branch has been broken, damaged or diseased in some way, then it ought to be removed. If it's a large limb requiring a ladder, then you should call in the professionals. However, if you can reach it from the ground, then go ahead and remove the branch from its base, cutting it flush with the trunk so it doesn't leave a stub. You can do this any time of year as you don't want any disease to spread.

Second, you may have a tree in your yard that is hard to mow under because the branches are too low to the ground. How annoying! We had that issue with the ornamental cherry tree that came with our backyard. We love it but were getting whacked in the head all the time. As you can see in before and after pictures, I just went around and cut away all of the smaller branches that where angled downward. I only needed a small chainsaw for one larger branch that just needed to go. The rest where small enough to use pruners. If too-low branches are driving you nuts ever time you have to mow under them, then now is the best time to get out there are clean it up.

Don't be nervous! Trees are tougher than you think. Even if you over prune a bit, the tree will bounce back in time. As I said in the previous post, you don't need to put any kind of a sealant on the cuts as the tree will heal itself. Also, for more info, check out "Grow A Little Fruit Tree" by Ann Ralph.