Update: the 3 cut rule on my pole saw finally stopped me from shredding limbs
I kept getting ugly torn cuts on oak limbs about 4 inches across, so last week I started making a small notch cut on the underside first and it came out clean on the first try. Went through a whole backyard cleanup in Fresno without one torn stub. Anyone else use a notch like that on smaller stuff, or am I overdoing it?