10/15/2026
A pruning cut looks simple from a few feet away, but exactly where it lands on the branch decides whether that wound closes over cleanly or turns into a way in for decay.
NC State Extension is specific about it: the branch collar is a swollen ring of protective tissue where a branch meets the trunk, and cutting into it -- a flush cut -- removes that protective zone and increases the chance of fungal organisms infecting the plant. The correct cut sits just outside the collar, angled roughly 45 degrees to the branch bark ridge, so the tree's own tissue can grow over the wound instead of being cut away with it.
Our crews look for the collar and bark ridge before every cut for that reason -- a pruning job that heals well starts with getting that one detail right. Call 302-598-9192 or visit yougowithigo.com to schedule fall pruning.
