Polk County Master Gardeners
News Articles
Pruning 101
Pruning is not nearly as difficult as many of the manuals make it sound.
The first thing you need to know is why you are going to prune: that answers a
lot of the when and how questions.
First, you can prune to remove damaged, diseased, or dead tissue from your
trees or shrubs at almost any time. The one exception would be when you are
removing a fungal disease. In that case, do not prune when the fungus is
producing spores as that could infect your new cuts. Otherwise, remove dead or
dying branches when you find them. Also, if all you want to do is remove a stray
branch, you can do that at any time.
Aside from removing damaged tissue or removing that one unsightly branch,
never prune in the spring or fall when the sap is flowing. Summer or winter may
be best, depending on the type of plant.
The third “always” rule is never cut just the end of a branch over 3 inches
in diameter. This will cause a dense growth of sprouts that will cut off light
to the inner part of the tree. Go back to a fork and make your cut just past the
collar (thick area at the base of the branch where it attaches to the trunk or
another branch). This will leave less cut area exposed and allow the cambium
layer to grow over the wound.
For branches less than 3 inches in diameter, cut just outside a bud pointed
in the direction you want the branch to continue growing. Slant the cut slightly
upward to prevent water from soaking into the wound. Use hand pruners, long
handled loppers or a pruning saw, depending on the size of the branch.
The next thing to decide is what kind of plant you are pruning. For flowering
or fruiting shrubs or trees, do not cut off branches until after they have
flowered or set fruit. So for spring flowering shrubs, you would do the pruning
in the early summer as soon as the flowers have faded. The new growth that comes
after pruning will bear flowers next spring. For summer flowering or fruiting
shrubs, wait until late winter or very early spring before the sap starts
running. Late fall is generally a bad time to prune any tree or shrub because
pruning tends to promote new growth. This will not have enough time to “harden”
to prevent freeze damage.
In general, whether you want to prune to control size or improve light and
air penetration, you will want to select carefully those branches to remove so
that you do not create a hedge (unless that is what you want!).
By Barbara M. Tobias
Back to News Articles
Back to
Polk County Master Gardeners
|
