Summer storms damaged an unusual number of trees this year. Some were snapped off or uprooted. Limbs were broken on others. Homeowners and maintenance crews are still trying to cleanup and reduce the damage. Trees that were snapped off or uprooted presented few options. They became chips or firewood.

I am dismayed at the improper removal of broken branches. Trimming and pruning is an art. However, this isn’t about the art of pruning. It is about one particular pruning error that is obvious and does lasting harm to the tree. It is about removing a branch and leaving a large stub.

When a branch is properly remove the tree is able heal and seal the wound. Stubs cannot heal. The wound becomes an entry point for pathogens and insects. They are the beginning of a hollow tree. Dying trees are great for woodpecker nests and dens for squirrels. They do not look well in your lawn or along the street.

At the base of the branch where it joins the trunk of the tree is a raised collar of bark. The collar contains specialized cells that enable the wound to grow over quickly. When removing a branch, the finishing cut should be made at the point where the branch meets the collar.

Three cuts are required to properly remove a branch. These cuts are necessary to prevent the weight of the falling branch from tearing bark from the trunk.

The first cut is made on the underside of the branch a few inches from the trunk. Cut approximately half way through the branch.

The second cut is made a half-inch farther from the trunk Cut from the top of the branch until the branch drops off.

The third cut removes the branch stub which now has a manageable weight. Sever the stem at the juncture of the stub and the collar.

A few words of caution before you decide to remove a damaged limb. A tree limb can be very heavy and the path it takes as it falls can be unpredictable. Think long and hard before you climb a tree. Never use a chain saw while standing on a ladder. Call a professional to do the big stuff.