Pruning Lower Branches on Young Redwoods

Your 13-ft redwoods in Oakland clay on a hill have ivy around them. You want to trim bottom branches. Yes, you can—correctly.

How to Prune Redwood Lower Limbs

Cut ¼ inch from trunk, just outside the branch collar (swollen base). Do not cut flush.
Remove no more than ⅓ of total live limbs in one season.
Redwoods compartmentalize well; wounds close naturally.

Prune low branches properly (collar cuts, ≤⅓ canopy). Clear ivy, mulch, water. Redwoods respond well.

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