Man, so today I finally got around to tackling that dang willow tree in my backyard. Thing was starting to look wild, branches hanging over the roof, some dead stuff poking out everywhere. Looked like crap, honestly. Remembered that Cass Turnbull book I skimmed last week – figured I should actually try doing it right instead of my usual hack job.
My Usual Mess
Grabbed my rusty old saw first thing Saturday morning – bad sign already, I know. Didn’t even think. Just waded right in. Started lopping off any branch that looked kinda long or dead or just annoyed me. Sawing away like a maniac.
Mistake #1 Happened Instantly: I cut a big ol’ branch way too close to the trunk. Like, right up against it. Left this awful stub. Just stared at it. Knew it was wrong. The book talked about this, something about the “collar”? Yeah, totally ignored it. Also hacked off a bunch of smaller branches randomly in the middle, leaving these weird stumpy bits sticking out.
Mistake #2 Was Just As Bad: Thought the tree looked lopsided. So naturally, I chopped off the top of the biggest, healthiest branch on the other side to “balance” it. Made it look like a drunk donkey had taken a bite out of it. Not good.
Time To Actually Open The Book
Went inside for water, feeling kinda dumb. Picked up Cass Turnbull’s book. Flipped past the shiny pictures to the part about common screw-ups. Yep. Saw my morning described perfectly: “stub cuts,” “topping,” “random hacking.” Ouch.
The gist I grabbed:
- Find the damn collar first: That little swollen bump where the branch meets the trunk? Don’t cut into that! Need to cut just outside it.
- No topping! Ever! Cutting the ends off big branches just makes weak, ugly shoots burst out like zombie fingers.
- Thin stuff before hacking big: Get rid of small, weak branches that cross or rub first before thinking about the monsters. Helps see what you’re actually doing.
- Sharp tools. Seriously: My rusty saw was tearing the wood, not cutting. Made a mess.
Giving it Another Go (The Right Way)
Okay, deep breath. Sharpened my pruning saw and loppers. Went back out feeling less like a Viking and more like a surgeon. Maybe.
Step 1: Targeting the Dead and Dumb Stuff Looked carefully this time. Found branches that were clearly dead, dry, brittle. Snipped those off first. Found a few thin branches rubbing against bigger ones. Got rid of those.
Step 2: Finding the Collars For bigger branches, I stopped and hunted. Like, really looked. Found that little bumpy collar near the trunk. Made my cut just outside it, aiming downwards and outwards, just like Cass said. Took way longer. My arm got tired. But the cut looked… cleaner? Smoother? No nasty stub sticking out.
Step 3: Absolutely No Topping Even though my brain screamed “MAKE IT SYMMETRICAL!” when I saw the gap from my earlier blunder, I ignored it. Didn’t touch the top of any healthy branch. Let the willow stay a bit lopsided for now. Felt weird, but right.
The End Result (And My Aching Arms)
Couple hours later, soaked in sweat and probably tree sap, I stepped back. Honestly? It still looks a little uneven. But it doesn’t look butchered. No giant stubs screaming “Amateur Hour!” The cuts are cleaner. The dead stuff is gone. The branches I cut properly seem… healthier? Or maybe I’m just hopeful.
The biggest difference? I didn’t feel like I’d ruined my tree. Usually after pruning I just feel guilty. Today? Arms hurt, knees dirty, but I kinda felt like I helped it. That Cass lady knows her stuff. Wish I’d cracked that book before I made my usual mess. Definitely gonna re-read it before touching that maple next month. Maybe even sharpen my tools before I start. Crazy idea, right?
