nurtomi

Removing a dead stem

Confirm the target and its connection before removing it.

Dead and partly dead ivy stems on a tree; confirm your own plant’s living parts.
Dead and partly dead ivy stems on a tree; confirm your own plant’s living parts. Photo: Acabashi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted for display.

What to look for

Look for a stem that is clearly dry and dead, then follow it back to where it joins the plant. A brown stem is not always dead; if you cannot distinguish living tissue, do not guess.

What to do

With a clean tool, remove only the confirmed dead section without damaging adjacent live stems or buds. Clean the tool afterwards, especially if disease may be involved, and monitor the remaining growth.

Sources