The Do’s and Don’ts of Tree Pruning: Advice from South-West Victoria Experts

Tree pruning isn’t just about chopping off branches. Done right, it improves health, growth, and safety. Done wrong, it can stress your tree and cause long-term damage.

✅ Do:

Prune in late winter or early spring.

Prune in late winter when trees are dormant for faster healing and less disease risk. This timing allows wounds to seal before spring growth while minimizing exposure to fungal spores and insects that are inactive in cold weather.

Use clean, sharp tools to avoid infection.

Always use clean, sharp tools like bypass pruners and pruning saws to make precise cuts that heal quickly. Disinfect blades between trees with isopropyl alcohol to prevent spreading pathogens through ragged wounds.

Hire a qualified arborist for high or heavy limbs.

Call a certified arborist for any high or heavy branches - it's safer and smarter. Professionals have the training, insurance and equipment to safely remove large limbs near power lines or structures without causing property damage or personal injury.

❌ Don’t:

Prune more than 25% of the tree at once.

Never remove more than 25% of foliage at once to avoid tree stress. Over-pruning shocks trees by removing too many food-producing leaves, potentially leading to sunscald, water sprouts, and decay.

Cut during extreme heat or drought.

Avoid pruning during drought or heatwaves when trees are already stressed. Additional wounds during these conditions increase moisture loss and make trees more susceptible to pests and diseases.

Leave jagged cuts—this invites pests and disease.

Jagged cuts and torn bark invite disease - always make clean cuts at the branch collar where the tree's natural defense boundaries are strongest. Ragged wounds take 3-5x longer to seal properly.

In windy areas like Portland and open landscapes in Heywood and Casterton, proper pruning can prevent damage from strong gusts and storms.

At ArborRowe, our team has been pruning trees across South-West Victoria since 1995. We know every species, every season, and every safety protocol.

Want to keep your trees looking healthy and clean? Talk to the experts.

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