YIKES, Don't do this at home!

NOT MY GARDEN!

I ran across this poor tree and was amazed at how it was butchered. Seems they tried to cut almost flush on a few cuts. But heaven knows who left the enormous "stub".

If your tree, like this fir, doesn't have a noticeable hump or shoulder (branch collar) at the base of the limb, you can use the drawing to figure out where to cut. Make one cut a foot or so under the limb part way out from the trunk. Cut further out from the first cut. When the branch falls, it won't rip bark past the first cut. Lastly, make a proper cut as illustrated from A to D. In all cases, don't cut flush!

Let me know what you think.

Visit my web site to learn about my new book on drip irrigation and other gardening books.

NOTE: The comments section at the bottom of the post has disappeared. Click on the "___ Comments" button or the title under the "Blog Archives". Thanks, Robert