The collar is the swollen ring where the branch joins the trunk. When you cut in this area, the collar will release chemicals that will help heal the wound faster. This is only for thick branches. If the branch is thin enough to cut off in a single cut, chop it off right at the collar instead with pruning shears.
You do not need to seal the cuts. Leaving the wound open will allow it to breathe and heal faster.
Cut your desired branch off, 4 to 5 inches (10 to 13 cm) above the junction. Cut the rest of the branch off 1⁄4 inch (0. 64 cm) above the junction.
If you don’t sanitize your tools, you risk spreading the disease to your other trees (or to other branches on the same tree). [7] X Research source If you don’t have alcohol, use a solution of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water instead.
Try to prune before the sap starts to form, and this will prevent sticky messes. Sap usually forms around early to mid spring. [9] X Research source You don’t need to do any other type of pruning at this time. Things like thinning and shaping are considered to be structural pruning, and are best left for the summer.
Cankers: look for brown, wilting leaves and cankers on the branches. Dark pits with black centers are another sign. Verticillium wilt: look for brown or yellowing leaves and lack of new, healthy leaves. More severe cases may include dead or dying branches.
If you don’t cut all of the dead or diseased wood off, the infection will continue to spread. In more severe cases, it may kill the entire tree.
If the branch blooms, then it is both alive and healthy, and does not need to be pruned. If the branch has been dead for several years or does not bloom the following spring, cut it off.
If you choose to prune in the summer, wait until the leaves reach their fullest size. [13] X Research source
Air and light are both important as they can reduce the growth of mold, bacteria, and pests. The light will also allow the leaves to photosynthesize.
Only do 1 or 2 branches each year, otherwise you’ll shock the tree. Keep pruning yearly until you remove your desired number of branches. The younger the tree is, the more effective this will be. It is still possible for older trees, however.
Read the instructions that came with your fertilizer to find out if and when you should water it. The drip line is the span of the tree’s canopy. Take a look at where the shadow lands when the sun is directly above your tree; that is the drip line. Plan to reapply the fertilizer every 6 weeks during the spring, until summer begins. [17] X Research source
When reapplying the fertilizer, just move the mulch aside, add the fertilizer, then cover it back up with mulch again. If you can’t move the mulch aside to reapply the fertilizer, just add the fertilizer on top of the mulch. Double the amount to ensure that it penetrates through the soil.
For example, if the tree gets cankers or dead wood, then don’t wait 3 to 5 years to cut the branch off. Do it immediately. This is only for the pruning discussed in this section. You should do the winter pruning each year.
Trim water sprouts as close to the base of the tee as you can. In order to reach the base of the suckers, you may actually have to dig into the soil.
