Pruning Basics

Pruning involves the selective removal of plant parts (branches, stems and/or flowers) from a plant to improve the health, shape, and/or appearance of a shrub or tree. This may be done for aesthetic reasons or to control the size of a tree, and also to provide shelter to wildlife or to reduce damage from wind. This practice can also be used to improve the quality of fruit, and to control the growth pattern of plants such as hedges, espaliers, topiaries, and pollards.

The best time to prune most shrubs and perennials is in late winter or early spring, before the plant begins to grow. This allows the plant to replace any lost growth before summer, reducing the potential for disease. This is also the best time to prune fruit trees, as the tree will be able to replace any removed branches before the beginning of the season.

When pruning a tree, it is important to be aware of the species and variety you are working with. Certain types of flowers, fruits and trees require different pruning methods. For example, fruit trees should be pruned regularly in order to encourage more fruit and to increase the amount of light that penetrates the canopy. This is accomplished by making heading cuts, removing unnecessary lateral branches and suckers, and thinning cuts to allow more sunlight to reach the interior of the crown.

If a branch is dead or diseased, it should be removed as soon as possible in order to prevent the spread of the infection to other parts of the tree or shrub. This is especially true of limbs that have been broken off from a storm or damaged by a pest. It is also advisable to remove any limbs that are in the way or could fall onto people or structures. It is also beneficial to prune away water sprouts or suckers as they develop, since these limbs can compete with existing limbs for resources and often block airflow through the canopy of the plant.

The angle of the pruning cut is crucial for a woody plant’s ability to recover from injury. A correctly angled cut can be determined by careful observation of two features on the branch – the branch collar and the bark ridge. The branch collar is a small lip of bark that each branch protrudes from, and the ridge is a raised area of bark that runs up the length of a branch. By observing these features, you can be sure that your pruning cuts are properly placed and will promote the best healing of the wound. The more a plant is damaged by improper pruning cuts, the more susceptible it will be to disease, insect infestation, and decay. Proper pruning techniques help minimize these problems and will result in a healthier, more attractive plant for you to enjoy. Taking the time to understand these principles can make pruning more fun and less intimidating!

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