At 12:30 PM 1/29/04 -0800, you wrote:
---*----*----*

^c ^b ^a
OK if the above is a pine branch and you are reading
right to left, with the right * being the tip, can you
cut only before the second node (represented by the *
and ^a )or can you actually cut at ^b if you have
needles below? I take it that cutting at ^c probably
will kill the branch unless there were needles below
that.

Kitsune Miko

Kitsune

Yes, you can cut at 'b' if the internode before it still has needles. In
some locations that have very long growing seasons, you may even have three
internodal areas with needles. As long as the remaining internodal section
still has needles, it is _generally_ safe to cut the node off. Before
someone lays a disaster at my door, let me add the disclaimer that this
usually, but not always, works. It is not a guaranteed thing, sometimes
they will indeed die. Timely cutting of very healthy trees increases your
chances of success. If you want to drastically increase your chances, or
this is a branch you can't possibly afford to lose, then leave the node.


Brent in Northern California
Evergreen Gardenworks USDA Zone 8 Sunset Zone 14

http://www.EvergreenGardenworks.com

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