Pruning Second Growth Hardwoods in Connecticut

Because of past cutting methods the second growth forests of Connecticut now consist largely of stands too open to prune naturally. At the same time, there appears to be an improvement in market for high quality logs. Such logs can be produced in large quantity only if these stands are pruned artificially. The present study shows that ladder and hand saw give good results on the "easy side" of the tree but poor results under adverse conditions. The pole saw requires more skill, especially when cutting larger branches at or near the upper limits of each and is somewhat more tiring. Although the pruning of stands where the branches are over two inches in diameter does not seem to be advisable the quality of material produced by other stands where the stocking is such that the trees do not prune naturally can be improved greatly by artificial pruning.