A client in Boise told me to leave more of the branch collar and it actually made sense

I was doing a removal on a big maple last week, and the homeowner asked me to leave a bigger stub. I usually cut as close to the trunk as I can. He said his old arborist told him that a bigger collar helps the tree seal the wound better. I argued with him for a bit, but he showed me a book with pictures of decay patterns. I'm starting to think the flush-cut advice I got in trade school might be wrong. Has anyone else looked into this recently?

3 comments

3 Comments

reese_bell1mo ago

What book was it? I've heard the same thing from a few old timers, but the ISA stuff I read still says to cut close without damaging the collar. Curious what research his book was showing.

brian_jackson1mo ago

Oh man, I saw a study on branch collars years ago...

wade_hall26d ago

30 years ago? What specific study was that from, was it Shigo's stuff or something newer?