diff --git a/doc/contributing.texi b/doc/contributing.texi
index 66f4e86d0a..ecff6300bf 100644
--- a/doc/contributing.texi
+++ b/doc/contributing.texi
@@ -2298,9 +2298,9 @@ indication of its build status on various platforms.
 
 @cindex feature branches, coordination
 To help coordinate the merging of branches, you must create a new
-guix-patches issue each time you wish to merge a branch (@pxref{The
-Issue Tracker}).  The title of the issue requesting to merge a branch
-should have the following format:
+guix-patches issue each time you create a branch (@pxref{The Issue
+Tracker}).  The title of the issue requesting to merge a branch should
+have the following format:
 
 @cindex merge requests, template
 @example
@@ -2308,20 +2308,51 @@ Request for merging "@var{name}" branch
 @end example
 
 The @url{https://qa.guix.gnu.org/, QA infrastructure} recognizes such
-issues and lists the merge requests on its main page.  Normally branches
-will be merged in a ``first come, first merged'' manner, tracked through
-the guix-patches issues.
+issues and lists the merge requests on its main page.  The following
+points apply to managing these branches:
 
-If you agree on a different order with those involved, you can track
-this by updating which issues block@footnote{You can mark an issue as
-blocked by another by emailing @email{control@@debbugs.gnu.org} with the
-following line in the body of the email: @code{block XXXXX by YYYYY}.
-Where @code{XXXXX} is the number for the blocked issue, and @code{YYYYY}
-is the number for the issue blocking it.} which other issues.
-Therefore, to know which branch is at the front of the queue, look for
-the oldest issue, or the issue that isn't @dfn{blocked} by any other
-branch merges.  An ordered list of branches with the open issues is
-available at @url{https://qa.guix.gnu.org}.
+@enumerate
+@item
+The commits on the branch should be a combination of the patches
+relevant to the branch.  Patches not related to the topic of the branch
+should go elsewhere.
+
+@item
+Any changes that can be made on the master branch, should be made on the
+master branch.  If a commit can be split to apply part of the changes on
+master, this is good to do.
+
+@item
+It should be possible to re-create the branch by starting from master
+and applying the relevant patches.
+
+@item
+Avoid merging master in to the branch.  Prefer rebasing or re-creating
+the branch on top of an updated master revision.
+
+@item
+Minimise the changes on master that are missing on the branch prior to
+merging the branch in to master.  This means that the state of the
+branch better reflects the state of master should the branch be merged.
+
+@item
+If you don't have commit access, create the ``Request for merging''
+issue and request that someone creates the branch.  Include a list of
+issues/patches to include on the branch.
+@end enumerate
+
+Normally branches will be merged in a ``first come, first merged''
+manner, tracked through the guix-patches issues.  If you agree on a
+different order with those involved, you can track this by updating
+which issues block@footnote{You can mark an issue as blocked by another
+by emailing @email{control@@debbugs.gnu.org} with the following line in
+the body of the email: @code{block XXXXX by YYYYY}.  Where @code{XXXXX}
+is the number for the blocked issue, and @code{YYYYY} is the number for
+the issue blocking it.} which other issues.  Therefore, to know which
+branch is at the front of the queue, look for the oldest issue, or the
+issue that isn't @dfn{blocked} by any other branch merges.  An ordered
+list of branches with the open issues is available at
+@url{https://qa.guix.gnu.org}.
 
 Once a branch is at the front of the queue, wait until sufficient time
 has passed for the build farms to have processed the changes, and for
@@ -2329,6 +2360,9 @@ the necessary testing to have happened.  For example, you can check
 @indicateurl{https://qa.guix.gnu.org/branch/@var{branch}} to see
 information on some builds and substitute availability.
 
+Once the branch has been merged, the issue should be closed and the
+branch deleted.
+
 @node Debbugs User Interfaces
 @subsection Debbugs User Interfaces