I have a few trees (maple, ash) that need some branches pruned as they are
either dead or hanging too low.

Need I apply something to the trunk of the tree to cover the cuts after I
have removed the branches, such as shellac?

Thx

Ian wrote:

I have a few trees (maple, ash) that need some branches pruned as they are
either dead or hanging too low.

Need I apply something to the trunk of the tree to cover the cuts after I
have removed the branches, such as shellac?

Thx

If you prune limbs carefully to the branch collar, there is no need to coat
the cut with anything - the tree will scar over and seal the wound on its own.
Painting pruning cuts is no longer considered a sound gardening practice - it
can actually increase problems for the tree and delay natural healing.

pam - gardengal

Agreed .... Another change that recently has come out is where exactly to
prune. They used to tell you to prune as close to the trunk as you can and
this is a big NO now. If you look at the branch, you can almost detect what
you might think of as the turtleneck of where the branch meets the trunk (a
slight thickening like a collar). You want to cut near this but such that
you are not damaging the cells of this "collar" so outside of where the
collar is but not so far away that you have wood that is going to die and
rot and form a barrier for the collar to grow over. On a large branch this
collar can be an inch or more thick so you are leaving a nub of sorts off of
the main branch. If you have done it right, it is amazing how quickly it
heals over.

DKat

"Pam" wrote in message
...


Ian wrote:

I have a few trees (maple, ash) that need some branches pruned as they
are
either dead or hanging too low.

Need I apply something to the trunk of the tree to cover the cuts after
I
have removed the branches, such as shellac?

Thx

If you prune limbs carefully to the branch collar, there is no need to
coat
the cut with anything - the tree will scar over and seal the wound on its
own.
Painting pruning cuts is no longer considered a sound gardening practice -
it
can actually increase problems for the tree and delay natural healing.

pam - gardengal

Thanks for the info. I was aware that covering the cut was not considered
smart as it was moons ago. However, one of the tree companies said I should
use shellac, so I was wanting of a second opinion, thus my post.

I'll also cut to the collar, or turtleneck.

Thx much.


"D Kat" wrote in message
...
Agreed .... Another change that recently has come out is where exactly to
prune. They used to tell you to prune as close to the trunk as you can
and
this is a big NO now. If you look at the branch, you can almost detect
what
you might think of as the turtleneck of where the branch meets the trunk
(a
slight thickening like a collar). You want to cut near this but such that
you are not damaging the cells of this "collar" so outside of where the
collar is but not so far away that you have wood that is going to die and
rot and form a barrier for the collar to grow over. On a large branch
this
collar can be an inch or more thick so you are leaving a nub of sorts off
of
the main branch. If you have done it right, it is amazing how quickly it
heals over.

DKat

"Pam" wrote in message
...


Ian wrote:

I have a few trees (maple, ash) that need some branches pruned as they
are
either dead or hanging too low.

Need I apply something to the trunk of the tree to cover the cuts
after
I
have removed the branches, such as shellac?

Thx

If you prune limbs carefully to the branch collar, there is no need to
coat
the cut with anything - the tree will scar over and seal the wound on
its
own.
Painting pruning cuts is no longer considered a sound gardening
practice -
it
can actually increase problems for the tree and delay natural healing.

pam - gardengal

On Tue, 09 Sep 2003 21:09:29 GMT, "Ian"
wrote:

Thanks for the info. I was aware that covering the cut was not considered
smart as it was moons ago. However, one of the tree companies said I should
use shellac, so I was wanting of a second opinion, thus my post.


What tree company said to use shellac? That is incredible. The
recommendations to leave pruned areas bare is at least 15 years old!

No competent arborist or even accomplished amateur would tell you to
use shellac on a fresh cut.

JMHO

John

I don't want to say, it is a huge North American company, I'm sure you have
heard of it. Of course, it was just one of their Arborists, not indicative
of the company's approach, I guess! g


"John Bachman" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 09 Sep 2003 21:09:29 GMT, "Ian"
wrote:

Thanks for the info. I was aware that covering the cut was not considered
smart as it was moons ago. However, one of the tree companies said I
should
use shellac, so I was wanting of a second opinion, thus my post.


What tree company said to use shellac? That is incredible. The
recommendations to leave pruned areas bare is at least 15 years old!

No competent arborist or even accomplished amateur would tell you to
use shellac on a fresh cut.

JMHO

John

Thanks for giving me a question for the guys who are going to cut my trees. I
chose a company with a certified arborist, hoping they would know what they are
doing. What I need is to have branches cut that are overhanging the roof.
They are making a mess in the gutters. Maples. I get the estimate on Friday.

Marilyn in Ohio

Ian wrote:
I don't want to say, it is a huge North American company, I'm
sure you have heard of it. Of course, it was just one of their
Arborists, not indicative of the company's approach, I guess!
g

Why not say?

--
Travis in Shoreline (just North of Seattle) Washington
USDA Zone 8b
Sunset Zone 5

On 10 Sep 2003 12:07:24 GMT, (Allview) wrote:

Thanks for giving me a question for the guys who are going to cut my trees. I
chose a company with a certified arborist, hoping they would know what they are
doing. What I need is to have branches cut that are overhanging the roof.
They are making a mess in the gutters. Maples. I get the estimate on Friday.

Marilyn in Ohio
Even if you shear the branches off so no branches overhang the roof (a
bad idea in many cases, depending on how much tree that represents)
you probably will not have any luck keeping the gutters completely
clean (wind will be a factor). Why not save the (likely several
hundred) dollars and pay someone to clean the gutters periodically?
You can also get screens of various types to cover the gutters. They
can do a pretty good job of keeping the debris out, though you will
probably need to maintain them occasionally.

Remember that a healthy, attractive tree can add significantly to your
quality of life and your property value (and decrease cooling costs in
summer), while an ugly or maltreated tree can create more problems and
detract from property values.

just a suggestion,

Keith
For more info about the International Society of Arboriculture, please visit http://www.isa-arbor.com/home.asp.
For consumer info about tree care, visit http://www.treesaregood.com/