What To Know About Three Types Of Tree Pruning Cuts
Have an overgrown tree that needs to be trimmed? Be sure to know about the following types of cuts to ensure it is done correctly.
Heading Cuts
A heading cut is when you shorten a branch to no place in particular. A mistake often made with this type of cut is that people cut the branch back to the length that they want it to be, which ends up resulting in a dead stub for a branch. This is often because there will be a fork in a branch where multiple branches come off of, and all the branches will be trimmed in the exact same place. It causes the sap from the tree to flow into each of these short branches, which can cause them to die.
The other mistake is that small branches, known as water sprouts, start growing from the cut branch. These water sprouts grow back much faster than the branch normally grows, and it looks like a mess very quickly. Heading cuts are okay if you want to make something look bushy, such as a hedge, but it is tough on the health of an older tree. You may want to use a different type of cut in order to avoid these problems.
Reduction Cuts
A reduction cut is going to reduce the length of the branch, but in a different way. Rather than trim all of the branches that fork off at the same point, you will follow the long branch back to the form and cut it off at the fork. This leaves the shorter branches in place but causes the branch to be healthy. All of the sap from the tree goes into the remaining branches rather than short and dead branches, and the branches left will continue to grow outward. You won't have to deal with water sprouts or dead branches, which is better for the health and look of the tree.
Removal Cuts
What makes a removal cut different is that you trim the branch back to the bud of the branch where it started to grow. This is often done when you trim the lower branches of a tree because you want the clearance beneath it where branches are not hanging too low and in the way of people walking beneath the tree. Removal cuts are preferred because it is the nicest cut to the tree that will help preserve its health and prevent it from dying.
To learn more, contact a tree trimming service.