pine trees

Roy in Ga · Sep 22, 2009

if I wanted to cut the limbs off a pine so I can see past them for deer hunting,but don't want to kill the tree, how should it be cut? The club I am in is also a tree farm and cutting down 1 pine can get you kicked out. I put a tripod stand up 3 years ago and now the trees are too tall to see through.

Dave from Texas · Sep 22, 2009

You can not cut the top off of a pine tree with out destroying it. You can trim any of the limbs but do not mess with the top.

Roy in Ga · Sep 22, 2009

even on the ones about 10-15 foot tall I knew not to cut the top but thinking about cutting them back to get a good line of sight leaving a couple inches of the limb so that it will not leave a bad spot.

James Howell · Sep 22, 2009

My former wife's family was in the timber business in NE Texas since the 1930's.

On several occasions, my former brother-in-law and I would trim pine trees on their tree farms.

[b:654c4848f0]Dave From Texas[/b:654c4848f0] is right about not cutting off the top; it will kill the tree.

Depending on the height of the pine tree, we left at least 2 "levels" of limbs in addition to the top.

When you cut off a pine limb, it does not "sprout" new growth like the hardwoods will.

Keeping a <a href="http://www.ehow.com/way_5406169_pine-tree-trimming-tips.html">pine tree trimmed</a> helps it grow very tall and most times pretty straight.

If the tree farm club you belong to plans to "selectively" cut the pine trees within the next 10-15 years, pruning them now will make them more valuable.

Hope this helps.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 22, 2009

A pine tree can be pruned up to 2/3 of its height, leaving 1/3 of the top without any adverse effects.
When pruning branches, they should be cut as close to the trunk as possible without scarring the bark of the trunk. this way, the stub is not left to die and create an avenue into the tree for infection, although they generally will heal over in time. (this is why you will find dead knots in lumber) If you want to prune just a portion of a branch, cut it close to another inner branch such that it will leave no stub without needles. Hope I've made this understandable.
Cal

Roy in Ga · Sep 22, 2009

James how much of the limb did you leave when cutting

Roy in Ga · Sep 22, 2009

every bit is helping me build my case when I present the idea to the camp leader so that when the land owner questions him he will know what to say.

James Howell · Sep 22, 2009

Usually leave about 1 inch at the top of the cut and about 2 inches at the bottom.

I do my best to always <a href="http://www.donnan.com/trimtree.htm">cut at an angle</a>; and not too close to the trunk.

Pine sap comes out for a while, but the bark never completely covers the cut on the pine tree.

I make my first cut underneath the limb just before it "pinches" the bar.

I make my second cut from the top as fast as possible and the limb falls "cleanly" to the ground.

Please pay attention to the safety tips on the linked website.

I have been guilty of not following them completely and have paid the price.

Please be careful.

Roy in Ga · Sep 22, 2009

James these trees are only 8-15 feet so the limbs are small so no need for the undercut.
thanks,Roy

Dave Sherburne NY · Sep 22, 2009

There is a collar around each limb, don't cut into
the ring collar, but cut close.

Nancy Howell · Sep 22, 2009

A small undercut makes sure the limb comes off cleanly without tearing any bark.

caterpillar guy · Sep 27, 2009

Ive cut a many tops out for Christmas trees without killing the tree. The limbs will just grow straight up and form a new top from 2 or more limbs. The bibest problem we have is the limbs dying from lack of light in the bottoms by shading from upper limbs.

pine trees

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