# tree trimming **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 17, 2003, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tree-trimming/189123 "2003-07-17T12:41:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tree-trimming/189123/1 "2003-07-17T12:41:35Z")
There’s a fairly old red bud tree in my front yard. It needs to be thinned as there are a fair number of dead limbs and the branches of these trees grow in a twisty-twiny way. It’s also too close to the house, to the ground and is in need of general shaping. Thinning I think I can handle. The dead branches I can find. What about general shaping? What do I want to avoid? Is there some way I can harm the tree? I was thinking of hiring someone, but as long as I know what NOT to do, I think I can deal with it. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tree-trimming/189123/2 "2003-07-17T13:01:51Z")
You’ll not harm the tree with general shaping. Just don’t touch the trunk. I trim and shape most of my trees around my house. Why I even put an [office](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=194863&highlight=tree+house) in one of them. 🙂 btw, some people put a tar type paint over cut limbs, but I have found this to be useless as the tree will heal right over the cut area with-in a season. However, if the branch is large enough, that you are cutting, i’d say over 10 inches in diameter, I’d use the paint. Home Depot has paint that is all natural and looks a lot less tacky than the black stuff. ---
**Author:** ![dinoboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dinoboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinoboy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tree-trimming/189123/3 "2003-07-17T13:25:58Z")
What phlo said: but, paint is also (debatably) unneeded, according to the most recent studies, the tree will heal fine on its own. As for shaping, that is easiest in the late fall when you can see the branches. Remember, cut the larger branches (4" or more in diameter) in three distinct cuts (find any book on this subject at Home Depot for diagram): -First cut - under branch, around 6" from trunk, about 1/4 way through -Second cut - above branch, around 8" from trunk, cut through branch -Third cut - within 1" (or so) from trunk –Your friendly horticulturalist ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tree-trimming/189123/4 "2003-07-17T15:22:02Z")
Can I see a picture of the tree? Usually I want the branches pointing up, not horizontal or down & clear out the middle of the tree so light can get in.Get yourself a nice pole pruner from the store, I saw them at Ace for $21 for an 8’ model. ---
**Author:** ![Kallessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7993a0/32.png) [@Kallessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kallessa)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tree-trimming/189123/5 "2003-07-18T00:24:43Z")
And don’t forget the tinsel. It’s not trimmed until it has tinsel. ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tree-trimming/189123/6 "2003-07-18T03:28:16Z")
**handy** a redbud tree is a smaller type, kinda sorta like a dogwood-size. The branches spread out so ‘up’ isn’t an option. Horizontal is about the only choice. And I want to get rid of most of the ‘down’ as well. Very funny **Kallessa**. That helps a lot. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kallessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7993a0/32.png) [@Kallessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kallessa)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tree-trimming/189123/7 "2003-07-18T05:02:18Z")
Hey, anything I can do to help. Wanna listen to _The Beach Boys’ Christmas_ while we trim the tree? Or maybe _The Chipmonks’ Christmas_ would be more appropriate? 😃 Think of it as a free bump–the longer it’s on page one, the more real advice you’ll get.