Hard prune, 2 cuts or just one?

[giventofly]

Hi,

So I was watching a video where a hard prune was made. It was cut horizontally and I was wondering why wasn't it more diagonal (he said it would be done in the future).

I can see arguments for both cases, cutting in the "final" form the trees heals in the correct way in the first time.

Making it two cuts allow for it to increase the sugar flows and a faster healing for a posterior cut .

My question is, when should we chose one or another?

Tree i saw with the red line I assume it would be the final cut

 

[leatherback]

By taking a horizontal cut first, you reduce the area over which it can dry out and reduces die-back risks, and you support the side branch which you would like to take over the leadership role. (And if you do not cut to a side-branch: It is not certain WHERE a bud will start growing).

Once sapflow has been rerouted you can more safely make a slanted cut.

 

[Shibui]

Maybe different strokes for different folks?
On a tree when cutting back to a stronger branch like the one pictured I would usually go straight to the angled cut.

When the new leader is smaller or weak, cutting too close can weaken it physically so it breaks off with wind or accidental movement. Sudden large cuts close to smaller shoots can also cause that shoot to die back.
In cases like those, leaving a bit extra seems to be safer until a good strong sap flow to the new leader is established.

As @leatherback mentioned, Chopping where there's no existing new leader means you don't know where buds will emerge so a straight cut is appropriate and make angled cut when there's something to cut to. Maybe video grower has misunderstood or misapplied the procedure?
2 cuts technique will rarely cause any problems. It may just slow the process a season or 2 so not wrong as such, just not always necessary IMHO

 

[giventofly]

Thanks