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Pruning trees during the summer can be a bad idea because the new growth will take place during the hottest months of the year, which can stress your tree out. Similarly, pruning during the early fall can be a bad idea, too, because you’d be stimulating new growth when most trees are aiming to go dormant. 

Pruning recommendations will vary by the type of tree, but generally, waiting until winter to prune your trees is a good idea.

If you want to take your tree-planting hobby beyond your outdoor space, here are a few great ways to do it:

• Encourage your neighbors to participate in the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program, which has a four-step framework that helps communities grow and maintain their own tree cover.

• Support businesses that plant trees. 

• Lobby your local government to plant more trees around your community.

• Donate to a tree-planting charity.

In most cases, you should not use a pruning seal on trees after trimming. Applying a sealant can interfere with the tree's natural healing process, and it does not guarantee protection from pathogens. Instead of sealing the cut, the best practice is to support the tree's natural recovery by providing it with plenty of water and a dormant-style fertilizer. However, there are exceptions. Pruning seals may be recommended for very vulnerable species, like elm trees, in areas where dangerous diseases such as Dutch elm disease are prevalent. In these specific situations, the protection offered by a sealant can outweigh its downsides. For advice tailored to your situation, especially after cutting large branches, it is best to consult a local tree trimming professional.

You can use a chainsaw, but it won’t remove the entire stump or root ball and is not a recommended method. It takes quite a bit of physical work to achieve and will likely dull or ruin your chainsaw. Instead, consider using salt, herbicide, light deprivation, boiling water, stump grinding, or burning to kill a tree stump. These methods allow you to kill a stump using minimal machinery and physical exertion.