What occurs during the heading cut process?

The heading cut process involves cutting a branch back to a stub, which promotes new growth from that point. This technique is used primarily for shaping and controlling the size of a tree or shrub while encouraging vigorous new shoots to emerge from the cut area. The goal is to stimulate lateral growth, which can enhance the overall appearance and health of the plant.

In contrast to a heading cut, options such as removing the entire tree down to the ground would be considered more extreme and would not be focused on encouraging new growth in a targeted area. Trimming only the leaves does not involve any significant reduction in the branch structure or overall plant size, and separating a branch from the trunk describes a different pruning technique called thinning, rather than heading. These distinctions make clear why the cutting back to a stub is the correct representation of the heading cut process.