On 31/08/2014 18:26, David Hill wrote:
On 31/08/2014 14:11, Spider wrote:
Yikes! Most important! Before you remove any significant branches off
anything, you will need to know about 'undercutting'. This is the
technique that stops bark tearing on the underside of the branch as you
finish your cut. I'll cover that next time. Ta ra for now.

Just a quick one, you can cut the branch off in 2 sessions, the first
12" or 18" above where you want the final cut so any bark tearing should
occur above the final cut then make the final cut where Spider tells you
it should be.
I do this cutting branches off trees when I have to be up a ladder.
Spider is doing a great job explaining it all to you. It's a pity she
hasn't got it all down as a booklet so you could print it off to keep
for future reference.
David @ a sunny side of Swansea Bay



Thanks, David, for the compliment! I was about to - finally - get
around to the multi-cutting just before I got into serious undercutting,
but I'm grateful for your input. I managed to mow and edge a lawn this
pm while the sun was shining, so time well spent.
--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay