- 1). Use a tree saw or hand saw to cut dead and dying limbs from the tree. It is possible to determine if limbs and branches are dead if they are dry and brittle. Dying limbs will appear lighter in color than the other branches around them. It is possible to tell if a branch is dead by cutting into the limb with a pocket knife. If the branch is still green inside, it is alive.
- 2). Cut any branches that are competing with the leader stem. The leader stem is the man branch that is attached to the trunk of the tree. Usually it points straight up into the air. Any other branches that are close to that branch are competing branches.
- 3). Use the chainsaw or tree saw to cut away branches that will cause too much shading to occur. Lower branches should be three feet away from the upper branches. There also should be no more than five low limbs on the tree.
- 4). Cut the tree limbs to maintain the cone shape of the tree. This is essential for proper exposure to the sun and other elements. The lowest branches should be the longest, with size descending as the tree goes up. The upper branches should be about two-thirds the size of the lower branches. The leader branch should extend above everything else, completing the cone shape.
- 5). Remove any water sprouts or drooping branches. There are usually too many shoots near the top of the tree. Thin them out to avoid excess shading of the branches.
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