Knowledgebase

Spruce tree branch trimming #827656

Asked April 28, 2023, 11:05 PM EDT

Hi, I have a very large spruce tree in my yard and need to trim some of the living branches for a fence installation. We are hoping that all we will need to take is one fairly large branch, possibly a second smaller branch. Both branches are located less than 6feet from the ground on a tree that is over 40’ tall. How should I go about trimming a branch that is living? Is there a safe way to do that? I’ve included some images of the tree for reference. Thanks! Sarah

Hennepin County Minnesota

Expert Response

Hi Sarah,

The tree is beautiful. You should wait for dry weather to prune, to reduce the possibility of spreading disease in the tree.

A tree this large should tolerate having a couple branches removed just fine. How you prune is key. Unless you make the pruning cuts correctly, you run the risk of having a heavy branch drop as you cut, ripping bark off. And don’t cut flush to the trunk. You want to leave the branch collar, the swelling at the base of the branch next to the trunk, intact.

It sounds complicated but it isn’t. This publication has good information, including a diagram about how to make three safe cuts to properly remove a branch:

https://nfs.unl.edu/publications/pruning-trees

Hope this helps!


MJ Replied April 29, 2023, 9:16 AM EDT

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