Consumption and Real Estate
Can cut a Main branch off a tree in winter?
Question : Can cut a Main branch off a tree in winter?
Movers in their very careful ways broke a fairly large branch off a tree on my front lawn. It is middle of winter here now, snow and about -5. Will cutting the branch off do any damage to the tree itself? Due to where it’s snapped I would have to cut it off basically where the branch shoots off the main trunk. Any reason I should be concerned when cutting? (it would need to be done with a saw)
careful movers
Best answer:
Answer by hickernut
it will not hurt the tree to cut the limb off.
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#4 written by paul 1 year ago
Because of the cold I would paint the cut end with a sealant because sap will not flow at that temperature. Whatever you have even wood stain would work. A varnish would not work unless it gets above freezing for a couple hours after you apply it. A tree sealer at the nursery or hardware store would be best but check the can to make sure it can be used in that weather. It would be better to cut even if it can not be sealed as a break or tear is more likely to allow more damage than a clean cut.
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I am surprised that noboday has asked what kind of tree it is? If you do not know can you take a picture and post a link for us to see and better access the damage.
But on a general note. Pruning during the winter before the tree starts to bud is one of the best times to prune. The sap flow is very minimal due to the cold weather so you wont make a mess. There has been a huge debate whether or not to use tree sealant to seal off cuts. The main concern when pruning is creating wounds and leaving the plant open for disease and pests. Because it is winter you shouldn’t have to worry about pests and as most trees shed their leaves during the fall airborne ‘spores’ are out of the question (in most cases).
I would say go ahead and do the necessary pruning and get the tree back in healthy order…saying that I really wish I knew what kind of tree we were talking about.