How to Cut a Tree Branch Properly

Mature trees are an investment. So when pruning a branch, it's important to make the right cuts to ensure you're protecting the ongoing health of the tree. Joe Lamp'l, host of Emmy Award-winning Growing a Greener World demonstrates the key steps.

The joe gardener community can be found on:

[broodyking]

Thank you sir! using all of yours advice I successfully cut down a fair bit of branches/limbs that I wanted gone and it turned out great. No wounds left for pests/diseases and a nice cut close to the trunk, left the cut alone for natural healing. All the best.

[rbmustang]

1:49, I know this video is 5 Years Old. What if the branch being removed is dead and it's pointing more upward than straight out the side of the tree? Would this be a time when the cut area should be sealed? I'll try to find a more recent video to ask the same question.

[gore]

Thank you for keeping this short and sweet.

[a.r.r.]

THAT'S IT!? I love it! Thanks for the vid!

[The-Flick-Show]

What kind of saw do you recommend? What about if the branch is higher than your ladder?

[Amelia.B-]

But I want to add a sealant so that no further baby branches sprout. What do you then recommend?

[Saurosapius]

Nice, very clear instructions and straight to the point, yet also telling why you do it this way, way to go!

[blknmild]

It worked exactly how you said it would, thanks for the tip 👍

[KayBeeStew]

What happens of I leave the approx 1' of branch on the tree for future climbing steps? I want to slowly take down a large pine tree in my hard and need a way to get to the top. Great video!

[matthewhughes]

Not bad, don't forget to undercut ALL branches... You never know when the branch will fall and strip more bark than intended... Undercutting will prevent it

[ificandoityoucandoit.]

Do you have to cut the whole limb off? Down to the truck. Can this technique be used further out where the limb branches off again? Just to make the limb shorter and not remove it completely.

[wizardsuth]

Why is the first cut so far back from the second? Why not make it an inch away, or even better directly aligned with the second cut so you don't need to cut as much?

[arinrobinson]

Thank you for posting this. I am still confused by the first cut though. I understand the second is to take off the excess weight that can introduce damage to a potential natural healing process but the first cut would seem unnecessary as it is applied to something that is coming off all together. I guess I need to look at that process again.

[sara.cbc]

what do i use to cut smaller branches but thicker than 3 inches?

[wiesbadengera]

woo hoo...somebody knows how to make a crystal clear detailed video. how refreshing!!

[zaypeaceIslamstories]

What's the name of that saw you using and can you use a big 22 saw instead to do all that

[digi-i]

"brought to you by Corona"
Well that aged well :D

[Im-just-Stardust]

Thank you so much ! We live in such a weird society that they tell us to paint with chemical the wound of trees. Unbelievable. Soon they will tell us to drink paint to heal from cold. I'm glad I found your video.

[kingsman]

What if the branch is dead--do you still do the under cut???

[therealbacaboo]

Thank you. I’m glad I watched this and I’m glad you made it. Undercut! 😁 👍