Debate: flush cut saw vs handsaw for pruning live oak in Austin

I had a 6 inch branch fail on a client's live oak last week because my flush cut left a stub that rotted out. Did I mess up the cut angle or should I have used a handsaw for a cleaner finish? What's your take on flush cuts for heavy limbs?

3 comments

3 Comments

morgan_butler1d agoMost Upvoted

Learned this the hard way myself a few years back. Used to swear by flush cuts on everything but a buddy showed me how live oaks just don't heal right when you cut too tight to the collar. That stub you left probably trapped moisture and the rot had a perfect little pocket to start in. I switched over to a handsaw for anything over 2 inches and make sure I leave the branch collar intact. Heard it from an arborist after that and now I never touch big limbs with a flush cut.

wendy721d ago

Have you looked at where the branch collar actually sits on live oaks? That stub you had might have been from cutting too far out, not too tight, since the collar can flare out further than you think. I'd say the saw matters less than finding that natural ridge and cutting just outside it, which gives the tree its best shot at sealing over.

parkerh381d ago

The real trick is finding that branch collar ridge and cutting just outside it like @morgan_butler said. I used to butcher cuts on live oaks by going too close to the trunk with a flush cut saw, and every single one left a wound that stayed wet for months. Now I use a handsaw on anything over 1.5 inches and take my time to follow the collar angle exactly. A flush cut saw is fine for small twigs but for big limbs you need that wider base to help the tree seal over faster.