Cut branches?

[bkellyvtme]

I just trimed a branch about 6 inches of a hard maple at my folks place and was wondering if there was anything to do to keep the cut spot from rotting? My mother says to paint over it. Didn't make much sense to me. I would like to see that tree around for a long time. Any info appreciated.

[Tom]

At one time, painting the wound was the recommended way. It was supposed to close the opening to insects and disease. 

Now, the theory is that leaving the wound alone and letting the plant handle it is the best way.  That is of course that the wound was made in a relatively sanitized way and properly cut. 

Once pruning was done through the limb's collar, that swollen ring at the base of the limb.  The idea was to keep the wound flush with the trunk, or larger limb.   Now the cut is made outside of that collar, by an inch or three, and left bare.

When pruning you should always use a clean instrument, and sanitize it before moving to another plant.  The reason is to keep from carrying a disease from one plant to another.  It is sometimes recommended that you sanitize the implement between cuts on the same plant, for the same reasons.

[Clark]

Proper pruning technique is the best thing you can do to ensure that the tree is not damaged.  (Although one could make the case that cutting a 6" limb should have been done years ago  ;) )

Check out figure 6 for a visual guide of where you should prune a limb in relation to the limb collar.

Clark

[bkellyvtme]

Well, when I cut it, I made a small cut on the bottom side of the branch and then cut from the top. I cut it like the diagram but it pulled a little bit from the bottom. I didn't make the bottom cut deep enough. Hopefully the tree will recover. I agree that it should have been done earlier, but when mama get a hair across her it's got to be done right then and there. Issues from the neighbors too added to the fire.

[Tom]

You still might be able to trim it again.  The undercut is to keep the bark from stripping down the trunk.  The cut on the outside of that is to get rid of the branch.  There is a third cut that is made to cut the stump close to the collar.  Since the weight is already gone, there is little chance that the bark will tear and open up a trunk wound. 

[bkellyvtme]

It went a little below the collar. I can not trim it any closer. Some of the bark was pulled off when some of the trunk wood got pulled.

[Tom]

Oops!   :D

I'll bet you that in 2050, it won't even show.  ;D

[cuttingman423]

i sure the tree will survive   Is it right that you should only prune and trim trees between fall and late winter when the is dormant?  thats what i've read online about  trimming and pruning.

[LeeB]

Between fall and late winter most of the disease spreading bugs and fungi are dormant. May have something to do with it.

[crtreedude]

Since we don't have a dormant time, we prune around the full moon.

[straightree]

Conventional wisdom was to prune during dormant season, but now seems that any time is ok, except in freezing conditions, or during the period that the tree would bleed. This varies according to species or geographic location. Still, I do not feel comfortable doing the job in spring or summer.

[Dodgy Loner]

Our urban forestry professor at UGA likes to say that the best time to prune a tree is when you're thinking about it.  No reason to put it off until winter, because you're likely to forget about it by then.  Painting over the wounds increases the amount of time it takes for the wound to heal over, that's why it's not recommended.

[Jeff]

The time you prune depends what your pruning and the area your pruning in doesn't it?  As with areas that have Oak Wilt potential?

[Dodgy Loner]

I read up on oak wilt and it appears you have a point.  In areas prone to oak wilt, wounding oaks should be avoided during spring and early summer.  As far as I know, it has not been documented in GA.  Heck, I had never even heard of it!

[LeeB]

It's coming slowly but surely.

[Dodgy Loner]

Not slowly enough :-[.

[Dale Hatfield]

Oak Wilt Im afraid its here in Southern Ohio. Im waiting for the official word to back up my findings . I cant explain the sudden tree death any other way.
Oak wilt has been around for a long time, forever maybe  but I think it ID around the 50's.