Time to prune your trees

The ground is still hard, the buds haven't swelled yet – and the trees are dormant. It's the best time of year to give them the pruning they deserve.

Late winter is the right time to tend to your trees. While everything is still sleeping you can shape and rejuvenate without stressing the plant – and cuts heal faster before the sap starts rising. The only requirement: the buds must still be closed.
For fruit trees it's about removing dead and damaged branches, thinning out water shoots and opening up the crown so light can reach inside. It's not complicated, but it requires the right tools. A pair of secateurs rarely suffices – for branches thicker than a thumb you need a saw that delivers a clean, precise cut without tearing the wood.
A poor cut heals slowly and invites rot. A good cut – placed just outside the branch collar, angled so water runs off – heals quickly and leaves the tree stronger.

Ljusnan – the tool that lasts the whole season

Ljusnan is made from stainless steel by Alleima – the same steel quality used for knives – with a handle in oiled walnut that sits securely in your hand even in cold and wet conditions. The stainless blade requires almost no maintenance and performs just as well on a crisp February morning as on a wet November day.
With 7 TPI and triple-ground teeth, Ljusnan delivers a fast, precise cut with minimal effort. You notice it most on thicker branches, where a sharp blade makes all the difference.
Ljusnan 180 mm
Nimble and lightweight – great for thinner branches and tight spots inside the crown.
Ljusnan 250 mm
Longer stroke for more efficient work on thicker branches. Anyone pruning more than one tree a season will quickly notice the difference.

Three things to keep in mind when pruning trees

01 – Check the buds. Prune while the tree is still dormant. If the buds have started to swell it's too late – wait until late summer instead.
02 – Cut placement determines healing. Never cut too close to the trunk – always leave the branch collar intact. It contains the tissue that seals the wound.
03 – Don't take too much at once. Branches thicker than ten centimetres leave large wound surfaces that are vulnerable to rot. Only remove what truly needs to go.