| A yard full of trees can be a great way to keep | | | | tree trunk (one to two feet). |
| out the harsh summer sun and provide a beautiful | | | | Next, make a complete cut through the branch |
| setting, but it can also mean a lot of work. When | | | | (beginning at the top of the branch this time) a |
| left unchecked, trees can grow unsightly and | | | | short way beyond the initial cut, even farther |
| unruly, blocking public sidewalks or growing in | | | | from where the branch meets the tree trunk. |
| places they shouldn't. | | | | When you have made the second cut complete, |
| If you are planning to start sawing away, become | | | | you should have removed the entire branch |
| familiar with proper techniques to before trimming. | | | | except for the stub that contains the initial cut. |
| Additionally, when a branch is too large for you to | | | | Finally, make a complete cut where the branch |
| remove by yourself, you should enlist a | | | | meets the tree trunk. Make sure to cut parallel |
| professional. An arborist-the official name for a | | | | with the angle that the branch grows from the |
| tree doctor-is the best person to properly | | | | trunk. |
| remove limbs and keep trees in optimum shape. | | | | Remember, pruning can have best results when |
| Removing a Branch | | | | the tree is young. Through proper pruning |
| Assuming the branch is large enough to require a | | | | practices, a tree can grow up to be tall, strong, |
| pruning saw, make an initial cut into the branch | | | | and aesthetically pleasing. |
| from the bottom, the cut extending only a third | | | | According to the Arbor Day Foundation, tree |
| of the way into the branch. This should be done a | | | | pruning is best done in either the winter (while the |
| short way from where the branch meets the | | | | tree is dormant) or summer. |