- 1). Use clean, sharp tools for pruning. For small branches, pruning shears will suffice, but to cut larger branches, use lopping shears or a saw. Sterilize the pruning tool if you previously used it on diseased plants. Rub the blades with a rag wet with isopropyl alcohol.
- 2). Prune most trees at the end of winter or early spring when they are just coming out of dormancy. New growth will soon appear, which hastens the healing process.
- 3). Prune a branch back to 1/4 inch above a leaf bud or a lateral limb growing from the branch. This will help the rest of the branch survive.
- 4). Prune a tree branch at the ideal spot to help the parent branch survive. Prune just above the branch collar, the swollen area where a side stem grows from the parent branch. Do not cut through the swollen area, which will only harm the parent branch. Cut at a downward angle away from the parent branch to avoid inadvertently cutting into the branch collar.
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