Plants give us oxygen for the lungs and for the soul. -Linda Solegato
The fall season is an excellent opportunity to break out the shears! Late fall (as the plants are going dormant) and early spring (before any new growth appears) are the best times to prune!
Why Prune?
Trees should be pruned for purposes that will benefit the tree, such as: pruning to remove dead, diseased and/or damaged branches, and maintaining as well as increasing structural strength. Pruning is also important to improve a tree or plant's natural beauty, as well as to ensure an abundance of flowers and/or fruit.
note** - look out for water sprouts and suckers arising from the bases of trees, often from the understocks, or grafted, or budded trees.
Remember- Pruning may be necessary as a safety precaution- keeping traffic views open, providing clearance for sidewalks, etc.
Although pruning a tree back when being transplanted is commonly thought of as being beneficial, it can actually do more harm than good (stunting a tree and damaging root growth).
Pruning Tools!
Loppers- Long handled shears which are used on branches 2 inches in diameter.
Pruning Saw- May be used on branches with a diameter greater than 2 inches, however it makes a coarser cut.
Pruning: A How To
When removing a side branch, cut the limb back to the trunk or to a larger branch. Never leave a stub (it will die back and will become prone to diseases and insects). To make a proper cut, look for the branch collar- the slight swelling at the base of the branch- and the branch bark ridge- a roughened line of bark left on the trunk as the branch and the trunk grow longer. The cut should be at an angle, leaving just the branch collar. To remove part of a central trunk or main branch, choose a major side branch and cut just above, parallel to the branch bark ridge. The side branch chosen should be no less than half the diameter of the removed trunk.
1 comment:
We have cedar hedges that badly need pruning. Any tips? It's tall enough that we definitely need a tall ladder, but I'm actually thinking that it might be better (both in terms of a job well done and my safety) that we get someone in to do it. If we do that, do you have any recommendations on who we might call in Windsor?
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