Making the Correct Pruning Cut
By Kay DiVerde
All the pruning in the world won’t do a bit of good unless the cuts are made correctly. It’s almost scary to think that the odds are more in favor of making a damaging cut while pruning than making a cut that will actually benefit your plant. Take the time to think before making each pruning cut. Plan out the location of the cut on the branch and the angle at which you cut.
Before starting to cut, make sure you have clean, sharp quality tools. Depend on Orchard’s EDGE to bring you the best quality tools, with sharp blades to make clean cuts that heal quickly.
After you have your tools collected, decide what needs to be removed. Always remove suckers that compete for valuable nutrients. Dead and diseased wood needs to be cut off as soon as you notice it. Rubbing and crossing branches should also be avoided. Take out twiggy and spindly growth. Branches that grow inwards toward the main stem should also be avoided.
Now that you know what you are going to remove, now you need to decide where to make the cuts. On budding branches, make your cut about 1 cm from the flower bud. Cut beyond the bud and leave the bud on the branch. When you need to remove a large branch, plan to make several cuts in order to avoid tearing from the pressure of cutting a heavy branch. Cut off several parts of the branch before make the cut just outside of the branch collar—never flush with the trunk. Never leave a stub on your trees.
With your sharp blades, make your cuts at an angle. Angled cuts drain better than straight cuts. Always leave a clean, smooth surface after each cut. Never leave a jagged edge. For more pruning hints and a diagram of proper pruning techniques:
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Making the correct type of cut, with sharp tools in the right location is key to the success of your pruning. Clean, smooth cuts heal the fastest and quickest.
Kay DiVerde is a freelance writer, horticultural researcher and consultant for Orchard's Edge. DiVerde also writes for a variety of newsletters and publications in the Midwest.
