Pruning Technique
 
It is of vital importance that pruning and cuts are made in a correct manner as this will help CODIT boundaries to form, resisting the spread of infection.
 
Small Branch Removal
 
I have already discussed secateurs/loppers and stated that my personal preference is for bypass cutters. The photo below shows two cuts, ‘A’ is a cut made with anvil type loppers and ‘B’ a cut with bypass type loppers. It clearly shows ‘B’ to be a much cleaner cut. We must however remember to hold secateurs and loppers the correct way round - the cutter blade must always face the retained side.
 
  • Pruning back to a node/bud – An angled cut which should sever the branch just above the node or bud at the same angle.
 
  • Small leader removal – Where the leader is cut back to a branch, this branch should be at least one third the diameter of the leader and preferably have an angle of less than 30º to that of the leader being removed. The cut is made just above the side branch at the same angle that it intersects the leader.
 
  • Small branch removal – must be made so as not to damage the branch collar, flush cuts must not be made nor must a stub be left. See branch removal for more detail.
 
  • Small codominant stem – A codominant stem is where two branches develop from a single terminal bud. Taking care not to injure the stem to be retained, the stem to be removed should be cut at an angle just less the that of the one being retained, completing the cut slightly above the ‘v’.
 
(The diagrams in the following large branch removal section apply equally to the above, but the above are made with a single finish cut).