Old timer told me my pruning cuts were "butchering" and he was right

Back when I started out about 12 years ago, I thought I knew it all. This retired arborist in Raleigh watched me take down some dead branches from a live oak and just shook his head. He said I was leaving stubs and tearing the bark instead of making clean cuts at the collar. At first I got defensive, but after he showed me the difference on one limb - how his cut healed over flat while mine left a jagged mess - I finally got it. I changed my whole approach that day: sharper tools, better angles, and actually cutting back to the branch bark ridge instead of guessing. Took me about six months to really break the old habit. Has anyone else had a seasoned climber call them out on something basic like that and it stuck with you?

2 comments

2 Comments

palmer.jana14d ago

That bit about breaking old habits reminds me how learning anything well usually means unlearning something first lol.

derek9914d ago

Learning anything well means unlearning something first" - that line hit me hard @palmer.jana. I used to think you just had to keep adding new stuff to your brain like a backpack. But I've realized you actually gotta dump some old junk out first before new stuff can fit. It's like trying to fill a glass that's already full, makes no sense. This post really shifted how I see the whole process of learning for me. For real though, it takes some guts to admit your old way might be blocking you.