Pruning Dunstan chestnut trees

[kjgallaher]

Several of my
chestnut trees have branches on the trunk that are nearly parallel to the trunk. Some appear to be fused. I believe this can’t be good and was looking for suggestions as to the best way to remove them. The trees otherwise appear healthy and are covered in chestnuts.
Thanks
Keith

 

[RGrizzzz]

and was looking for suggestions as to the best way to remove them

With a saw, unless you have beaver teeth.

 

[Hoytvectrix]

If any of the branches are more than 1/3rd the diameter of the main trunk or leader, I would not remove those. Otherwise, just be sure to use undercuts on the large branches to ensure they don't tear the bark.

I have seen several chestnut orchards with atypical-shaped trees. If they are producing, consider the time until the new one produces to replace the entire tree with a new one.

 

[kjgallaher]

I guess I was asking where along the branch I should start gnawing, I mean sawing. Should I cut parallel to the trunk or perpendicular to the “branch”? With the typical pruning cuts I’m used to, they would be the same.

 

[The Fishman]

I would wait until it goes dormant this fall and cut it as marked and with the same angle. I would not go much lower than that since it looks like the trunk and branch are fused.

 

[b116757]

^^^ cut lower just above where the bark between them stops do it in the dormant season maybe paint the cut but if you don’t really care about timber form leave it who cares that branch will produce chestnuts just as well as the main trunk. Really that pruning cut should have been made years ago already, now I’d probably leave it alone if it were my tree. Trees in general when grown in full sun tend to lean toward a more bushy form and less of a timber form nothing wrong with that if nut production is your main goal.

 

[kjgallaher]

Thanks for the advice. I will reevaluate this winter.

 

[Telemark]

I wouldn't cut that other trunk off. You run the risk of making it extremely lopsided, which could cause it to tip over in heavy winds or an ice storm. Plus the imbalance will make it throw a lot of new growth, which might affect nut production. This is based on my experience with fruit trees, and might not apply to chestnuts, so take it with a grain of salt.