Chat with an old timer about pruning angles that stuck with me

Was talking to a retired arborist named Jerry at the supply yard last Tuesday. He told me most people cut too flush to the trunk and that half inch collar is where all the natural defense chemicals are. Made me rethink every cut I did for the last 5 years. Any of you guys adjust your method after talking to someone with 40 years in?

3 comments

3 Comments

lindamartin13d ago

Old timers don't always know modern science. Those collars can rot too.

fisher.adam13d ago

Totally agree with you on that. Even the high tech "safe" e-collars with plastic prongs can trap moisture and lead to some nasty hotspots if you don't clean them regularly. I've seen it happen with a friend's golden retriever who wore one for a couple weeks and ended up with this raw, crusty patch right where the contact points sit. Plus those battery compartments can get corroded if the dog goes swimming or rolls around in wet grass. It's wild how something meant to help can cause more problems if you're not super vigilant about drying and inspecting it every day.

craig.sage13d ago

Yeah and @fisher.adam is totally right about the battery compartments too, that's where it always gets messy first. I had a lab mix years back that wore one of those plastic prong collars for training and we thought we were being careful but after a rainy week his neck was a mess. The moisture just sits against the skin no matter what kind of collar it is, even the fabric ones can hold dampness against their fur and cause problems if you don't pull it off and let it air out. What I ended up doing was taking the collar off every night and wiping everything down with a dry cloth, then giving his neck a good rub to make sure no irritation was starting. It's just one of those things where you gotta stay on top of it daily or it'll sneak up on you.