How to Prune a Box Elder Tree
- 1). Sharpen the blades of pruning equipment with a whetstone to provide a clean cut that doesn't crush or damage the wood.
- 2). Look at the overall size and shape of the tree and decide which branches you can remove without damaging the shape of the tree. Consider removing tangled branches because these can rub against and damage each other. Pruning out tangles also increases the amount of light reaching the interior of the tree canopy.
- 3). Trim small branches and twigs back to the length required to reduce the size and maintain the shape of the tree. Cut branches above an outward-facing bud to encourage new growth.
- 4). Cut larger branches close to where they meet the central stem of the tree, but leave the actual branch collar, where it meets the tree trunk, in place.
- 5). Cut away all dead, diseased or damaged branches. Do this last to prevent spreading infections to healthy parts of the tree. Burn all damaged, diseased and dead wood in a garden incinerator. Never add them to the compost pile.
