Pruning 101

Pruning is the practice of trimming and shaping trees, shrubs and plants for a number of purposes. The main purpose is to maintain health by removing dead or diseased parts and opening up dense areas so that more light can penetrate.

A well-trained pruner can help guide the growth of a plant to achieve a specific look. This can include creating a focal point, providing privacy, or attracting birds and butterflies. In addition, pruning can eliminate hazards and reduce the risk of damage to people or property from falling branches during storms and high winds.

Many plants that aren’t properly pruned or pruned on a regular basis become overgrown, requiring substantial pruning to correct the problem and to keep them looking their best. This can include removing dead or dying limbs to prevent their spread and keeping the overall tree structure balanced, which helps the tree stand up to wind and storm damage.

One of the most important reasons to prune is to remove diseased or insect-infested limbs before they can spread. A common mistake is to simply trim the limb and move on. However, removing diseased limbs promptly is much more effective, as it will significantly reduce the risk of those limbs failing during a storm or severe weather event and potentially injuring or damaging people or property.

Thinning is a form of pruning that involves reducing the density of a tree by removing limbs from their point of origin or from within the canopy to open up the canopy and allow more sunlight to reach lower limbs. This is particularly beneficial for fast-growing species that may otherwise overtake a space.

Removing spent flowering wood from certain types of flowering plants is another pruning task that should be done regularly. For example, spring-flowering plants like azaleas, lilacs, and rhododendrons should be thinned after they finish blooming in the spring so that more buds will develop on new wood.

Properly pruning trees and shrubs to manage their size and shape can also save on maintenance costs in the long run. For example, plants that are allowed to grow too large often require costly pruning or even removal to prevent them from hiding windows, encroaching on sidewalks, or crowding out other shrubs and trees.

Training young plants in their early stages is one of the best ways to avoid costly pruning later on. It’s a little like raising children – if you don’t set them up for success in their early and formative years, they may have a harder time getting on the right track down the road.

In addition, properly and consistently pruning can reduce the need for chemicals that can be harmful to the environment and to our water supply. Some of these chemicals, including fungicides and herbicides, have been linked to a variety of health issues, as well as being a potential hazard to people, pets, and wildlife. Pruning can also be an environmentally friendly way to control pests in the landscape, as it improves airflow and light penetration and reduces their habitat.

source https://realtreesolutions.wordpress.com/2024/11/23/pruning-101/