Thinning cut-A pruning cut that removes an entire branch from its point of origin.

Sucker sprout-A 1-year-old shoot that grows from the root.

Stub-A short portion of a branch left after a pruning cut.

The bud scale scars (ring of small ridges) on a branch mark the start of a season’s growth.

Shoot-The length of branch growth in one season.

Scaffold limb-A large limb that forms a tree’s framework.

Multiple-leader trained trees usually have three to five leaders per tree. In a central-leader trained tree, only one leader is left in the center of the tree.

Leader-The uppermost portion of a scaffold limb.

Lateral branch-A side shoot off of another branch, usually at a more horizontal angle.

Heading (or head cut)-A pruning cut that removes only part of a branch.

Crown-The base of the trunk where the tree meets the soil.

The strongest crotch angle is 45 to 60 degrees.

Crotch angle-The angle formed between the trunk and a limb.

It contains specialized cells that seal off pruning wounds from wood rot fungi.

Branch collar-The raised tissue at the base of every branch.

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