Step By Step: The 3-Cut Method of Branch Removal

The best method for pruning limbs is called the 3-cut method. It will ensure wound compartmentalization and prevent the branch from peeling the bark away from the trunk as it releases. Practicing this approach will keep the individual doing the pruning safe and the tree healthy.

It's critical to identify key branch landmarks that help guide where your final cut will be: the 'Branch Bark Ridge' and the 'Branch Collar.' The branch bark ridge can is the raised strip of bark on top of the branch, where it joins with the main parent stem or trunk of the tree. The branch collar is the slightly raised or swollen portion around the sides and bottom of the branch; this portion may or may not be distinguishable. The imaginary line connecting these two landmarks determines where you should make the final cut.  

Step By Step: The 3-Cut Method

Follow the three steps outlined below; these steps apply whether you are using a handsaw, pole saw, or chainsaw.

• (A) Bottom Cut - Create a cut on the underside (undercut) of the branch roughly 1/3 of the way through. This cut is a crucial step in branch removal as it eliminates the risk of the branch peeling down and further harming the tree.  

• (B) Top Cut - Next is a second cut on top of the limb (further from the trunk) to remove the limb (top cut).  

• (C) Final Cut - Now, with only a stub remaining, is when you should identify the branch bark ridge. Once located, determine the best angle to remove the stub while avoiding damage to the surrounding bark.