Glossary term
What is Three-cut method?
Short answer
The three-cut method is the standard way to remove a branch: an undercut, a top cut further out, then a final cut at the branch collar.
Three-cut method, explained for tree service owners
The three-cut method is how professionals remove a limb without tearing the bark. First, a small undercut is made on the underside, a little way out from the trunk. Second, a top cut is made slightly farther out, which lets the branch fall without peeling. Third, the remaining stub is cut just outside the branch collar, the swollen ring where the branch meets the trunk. The tree can then start to wall off the wound. Skipping the first cut can strip a long tear down the trunk. A tree service owner can use this as a talking point to show homeowners that trimming is a skill and that proper cuts help the tree recover.
Related terms
- Branch collar
Branch collar is the slightly swollen ring of tissue at the base of a branch where it joins the trunk or a larger limb.
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