Q&A for How to Cut a Limb from a Tree

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What time of year should Dutch Elms be cut down?

Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.

Lauren Kurtz

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

Cutting limbs off of a tree is best done when the tree is dormant. If you are cutting the tree all the way down and removing it, the timing doesn’t matter as much.

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Can I use paint or a stain to seal a cut off branch?

Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.

Lauren Kurtz

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

Using paint or stain is unnecessary to seal a cut branch. The tree will heal well on its own as long as the cut was made properly.

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I have one dying branch on my apple tree. What should I do?

Community Answer

I would go ahead and carefully remove the dying branch. If the tree starts to die in other places, it may need to come down entirely.

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How do I cut a branch that goes straight up?

Community Answer

You should not trim a branch that goes straight up. Doing so will create an entry point for water, bacteria and insects that will eventually kill your tree.

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Question

Does a maple tree get stressed after cutting off 2 of the 3 limbs?

Benny070069

Community Answer

It depends on how many branches the tree has in total. Prune maples when dormant (after the coldest part of winter). Prune no more than 25% of the total foliage. When spring hits, sap will bleed out a little to seal the wound, and then the tree will spring back better than before.

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I have a river birch, but the top half of a smaller trunk is dead. How do I cut it off without harming the tree?

Benny070069

Community Answer

Cut it back as close to the living part as you can without actually cutting into the living bark. This will allow the tree to grow over and seal the wound. All trees should be trained to a single main leader trunk with other secondary vertical trunks removed; not doing so will cause structural issues in the future.

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Question

I have a river birch and a branch grew off the main trunk that is too low and getting large. What angle should I cut it at?

Community Answer

If it is a large branch, cut it back in sections to avoid the risk of it tearing back into the trunk. The last small cut should be about 2 feet from the trunk, and the final cut should be 1 to 2 inches. Cut underneath first, then the top to tidy it all up. The wound will callous over.

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How many branches should be cut from one tree?

Community Answer

Depending on the size of the tree, you will want to cut off all but one. This single branch will grow very fast and become virtually immortal because the entire tree's energy is focusing on it.

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Can I cut dead branches off my Russian Olive any time during the year?

Community Answer

Yes, it is always OK to remove dead branches. Dead branches do not count toward your pruning allowance.

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What is the best time of year to prune a tree?

Community Answer

The general rule of thumb is in the dormant season, after the coldest part of winter has passed. However, it can vary depending on the tree and other factors.

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Do I need to remove a branch from a tree that has been struck by lightning to keep the tree healthy?

Community Answer

No. The branch wont affect the tree, as it has been struck on the outside, not inside. This means that the tree itself is healthy.

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