Pruning Trees: Flush cutting branches back to the point of origin is not a recommended practice. When this is done, the ability of the tree to stop decay is greatly decreased. Flush-cut pruning cuts into the wood of the trunk cause a wound that can allow decay organisms to infect the main trunk of the tree. The current and best recommendation is to prune the branch to just outside the branch collar. This collar is a ring of tissue that surrounds the branch at the point of origin. Properly pruned branches will have a circular closure around the wound. When the branch is cut too close to the trunk, the closure will be oval or distorted.
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When I prune my tree, should I remove branches back to the trunk with a flush cut?
Last Updated: March 15, 2007
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