amy858•16d ago

Just realized I was pruning live oaks in Texas all wrong for years

I used to always strip the lower branches flush with the trunk, thinking it looked clean. Then a guy from the city arborist office watched me work on a job in Austin last summer and asked why I was cutting off the branch collar. He showed me how leaving a proper collar lets the tree heal faster and stops rot from setting in. Now I spend more time on each cut but the trees actually look better 6 months later. Anyone else get taught the wrong way at first?

2 comments

2 Comments

linda_butler2816d ago

That thing about the branch collar hit home with me. It seems like every time I learn the "right" way to do something it turns out I've been doing it wrong for years, from mowing the lawn too short to washing my jeans every single wear. There's this weird urge to make things look clean and tidy right away, even if it hurts the long term health of whatever it is.

the_luna16d ago

Ever feel like we're just making up for years of rushing through stuff?