How to Cut Back on a Large Sycamore

Walk around the tree and inspect its height, shape and growth pattern, so that you know where to form your cuts. Decide how much you want to cut. Typically, not more than one-third of its overall size is removed. Wrap colored tape around branches you want to cut for controlling the tree’s size.

Cut dead, diseased and damaged branches on the tree with a handsaw. Position the saw on the branches’ underside away from the trunk, and saw halfway through it. Position the saw on the opposite side of this cut 2 inches above it and saw through the wood until both the cuts meet and the branch falls off.

Remove the remaining stub by positioning the handsaw flush against the trunk and forcing it down.

Remove rubbing branches from within the canopy. Position the loppers at an angle, and then cut these branches off at the branch collar, which is the swelling on the trunk where the branch meets. Cut branches at weak angles, those less than 45 degrees.

Saw off branches with narrow crotches that typically break as the tree grows. Remove water shoots, the tiny upright shoots growing inside the canopy crowding it. Position your bypass loppers against the branch, so that its jaws wrap around the shoot’s base, completely cutting it off. Remove the remaining shoots the same way.

Cut back thin branches or suckers emerging from the trunk’s base. Suckers compete with the tree for nutrients.

Step back to review the sycamore tree. Determine whether you cut overgrown branches from all around. Complete additional pruning as needed bringing its overgrown size down to a manageable size.