Proper pruning includes the use of the appropriate tools for the size of the limbs to be cut, the location of the cut itself, the amount of limb work removed, and the manner in which cutting is accomplished. Cuts should be made as close as possible to the point of attachment of the limb to the parent stem or to a lateral side branch. Extreme caution should be exercised so as not to damage the callus collar. The traditional method of flush cutting has been found to destroy the normal abscission of the branch collar, reducing the speed at which the tree compartmentalizes or closed the wounded area. Trimming is least conspicuous and conforms to the natural branching habit of the tree when done in this manner.
Some trees normally form the collar only when the branch begins to die.
When pruning dead branches with the collar, care should be used not to cut the swollen collar flush with the main stem. When properly trimmed, a small bump will remain after cutting back to the collar. This is far superior, however, to the large wound which would result from a flush cut. Under normal circumstances, the smaller cut will close and the tree will compartmentalize the wounded area created by flush cut. Trimming of live branches with a similar callus collar should be done in this same manner.