Tree Pruning Basics and Tips

Most people know when it’s time to tree prune but a large percentage of homeowners don’t know what to look for or where to start. We’ll provide a starting point and offer some tips for the task.

First of all, this is a good time to consider pruning for firewood. There’s more than one way to go about this, depending on the type of tree, so let’s look at some of the basics first. This technique can be performed with a willow tree (also known as an elm) or with a maple or an oak tree.

The trick to willow tree pruning is to make an opening in the stem of the tree, which is why you need to remove the fruit a few weeks before it grows full to make the process easier. This is called a “Willow-handle tree,” and the best place to start with this kind of pruning is where the trunk begins. On this tree, you’ll want to make a cut at the base of the trunk just above the willow-handle or “crape” that runs around the trunk. Then, about two-thirds of the way up the trunk you’ll want to make another cut into the “crape” so you can see where you’re working.

The “crape” is the top portion of the woody structure that your woodpecker would crawl through, and it’s a small piece of the trunk “crape” that makes up the trunk. So make sure you make a cut just below the willow-handle to get the pruning started. Doing this makes it easier to determine where you are in the tree and where you should cut to make the removal easier.

Next on the list is the oak. On the ground you’ll want to start by making a cut at the base of the tree and then moving up to the upper branches, which are the “arms” of the tree. Here you can make cuts in the branches and tie off in a tree pruning hoop.

To get mahogany, you’ll want to begin by making a cut on the tree’s trunk above the willow-handle and then moving up the tree until you reach the woody part of the tree, which is where the trunk and branches join. This is where you’ll want to cut down onto and out of, taking the tree’s “tails” as they tend to remain in the tree. Then, where the trunk ends, you’ll want to cut a large circle of the branches to make removal easier.

The tree pruning for these trees will take a little more time, but it can be done and gives you some great results. If you are planning to prune for firewood, this is a good time to start pruning so you have enough wood to keep you from running out and getting caught out in the woods. This will give you a little more time to be productive in your garden.

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