The day I figured out my pruning cuts were all wrong

I been cutting trees for about 8 years now, mostly on my own. Last month I was working on a big old oak in a backyard over near Springfield and a retired arborist walked by and stopped to chat. He pointed out how I was making my final cuts way too far from the branch collar, leaving these little stubs that would take forever to heal over. I always thought I was doing it right, but he showed me the difference on a few branches and it clicked. Has anyone else had a moment where some random person on a job site showed you something basic you'd been messing up for years?

2 comments

2 Comments

oscarm2420h ago

Happened to me with a maple two years ago, felt stupid for a week.

derekwalker14h ago

Oh man, I once drove 40 miles with a borrowed trailer before realizing the tie-downs were just for show. Did you ever figure out a way to stop second-guessing yourself on those?