branch prunning

peanuts1gang · White Belt Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 30

well i have a hinnoki cypress. and i was thinkin i might take this branch off soon. what are the tools/techniques i need to use to
here are the images of my tree and what i am considering removing
http://img185.echo.cx/img185/7060/painty5qw.jpg
http://img107.echo.cx/img107/6421/unpainty8gg.png

zzt6688 · Posted: Sun May 08, 2005 4:55 am Post subject: Re: branch prunning

I would say all you need is a pair of concave branch cutters.

Stymie · Posted: Sun May 08, 2005 3:48 pm Post subject: Re: branch prunning

It'll look better without that branch Peanuts. In the absence of a concave cutter, you might have garden secateurs or even a large pair of scissors. The wound will heal better if you can scoop a shallow hollow in the middle. A gouge being ideal for this. The hollow is not essential, merely better for the subsequent appearance.
Shall you try the offending branch as a cutting?

amanda · Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 1:21 pm Post subject: Re: branch prunning

Another branch-pruning question...

How big would you say is the cut-off between needing cut paste and not? I have 2 new junipers I want to start styling before it gets too far into summer. The biggest branches I've been thinking about cutting are less than 1/2 inch diameter.

Stymie · Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 7:01 pm Post subject: Re: branch prunning

Amanda.
You can use some kind of sealant on all pruning scars if you wish. Size of scar not being a cut-off point. There is a school of thought that does not recommend it at all, particularly for resin producing varieties, which seem to seal themselves. If you want to do some research, you could seal one of your trees and leave the other without. This could be helpful to us all if you submit your findings. We're all learning all the time.