Pruning!Pruning!

EquipmentEquipment

Pruning, why do it?Pruning, why do it?• Improve plant healthImprove plant health

Increase light and Increase light and air circulation in air circulation in the canopythe canopy

Pruning, why do it?Pruning, why do it?• DeadDead• DyingDying• DamagedDamaged• DiseasedDiseased• Deranged Deranged

• Root suckers and water sproutsRoot suckers and water sprouts

DamagedDamaged

DerangedDeranged

DerangedDeranged

Root suckersRoot suckers

Water sproutsWater sprouts

Water sproutsWater sprouts

Control growthControl growth

Enhance Flowering or FruitingEnhance Flowering or Fruiting

Plant size and formPlant size and form• Best to select plants which have desired Best to select plants which have desired

features at maturityfeatures at maturity

• Consider branch spacing and Consider branch spacing and

arrangementarrangement

• Structural strength & safetyStructural strength & safety

• Work with natural form of tree/shrubWork with natural form of tree/shrub

Safety!Safety!• Crotch anglesCrotch angles

““VV” = ” = VVery bad!ery bad!

““UU” = ” = UUltimate!ltimate!

RRight angle = ight angle = RRight on!ight on!

Crotch anglesCrotch angles• ““V” usually forms embedded or included V” usually forms embedded or included

barkbark

• ““U” often forms ridge barkU” often forms ridge bark

Y

Included barkIncluded bark

Better branching anglesBetter branching angles

Bark ridge

Pruning techniquesPruning techniques• Heading backHeading back = selective removal of the = selective removal of the

ends of twigs or young branches to a ends of twigs or young branches to a nodenode– Often has undesirable results such as Often has undesirable results such as

multiple leadersmultiple leaders– Drop-crotchingDrop-crotching = pruning back to a fork = pruning back to a fork

where there is a live branch (better)where there is a live branch (better)– PinchingPinching = removal of soft, new growth of = removal of soft, new growth of

branch tips with your fingersbranch tips with your fingers

Pruning techniquesPruning techniques• Thinning Thinning = complete removal of = complete removal of

branches back to a lateral branch or branches back to a lateral branch or main trunkmain trunk

Drop crotching & crown reductionDrop crotching & crown reduction

PowerlinePowerline considerations considerations

Pruning techniquesPruning techniques• Raising the crownRaising the crown

Pruning cutsPruning cuts

Proper pruning cutsProper pruning cuts

ToppingTopping

Damaged Damaged branch collarbranch collar

Healing well!Healing well!

Heart rot from decay of stubHeart rot from decay of stub

Improper Improper pruning cuttingspruning cuttings

Bacterial rotBacterial rotbehind behind

wound paintwound paint

Shearing-badShearing-bad

Shearing-goodShearing-good

Shearing-goodShearing-good

Shearing-goodShearing-good

Specialized pruningSpecialized pruning

• EspalierEspalier

• TopiaryTopiary

• Bonsai/PenjingBonsai/Penjing

When to prune?When to prune?• Trees are best pruned late in the Trees are best pruned late in the

dormant season or following a growth dormant season or following a growth flushflush

• If trees are pruned at other times, this If trees are pruned at other times, this often results in water sproutsoften results in water sprouts

• Worst time to prune?Worst time to prune?– When leaves are forming! (right now!)When leaves are forming! (right now!)

When to prune?When to prune?• Plants that set bud during the previous year Plants that set bud during the previous year

(flower on “old wood”) should be pruned just (flower on “old wood”) should be pruned just after they flower (ie: lilac)after they flower (ie: lilac)

• Plants that flower on the current season’s Plants that flower on the current season’s growth (“new wood”) are usually pruned growth (“new wood”) are usually pruned while still dormant (late winter/early spring)while still dormant (late winter/early spring)

When to prune?When to prune?• Light pruning on young shrubs encourages Light pruning on young shrubs encourages

branchesbranches

• Important to know when your trees/shrubs Important to know when your trees/shrubs flower!flower!

EspalierEspalier

• Creation of 2-dimensional plantsCreation of 2-dimensional plants

• Used for fruit productionUsed for fruit production

– Especially apples and pearsEspecially apples and pears

• Used to conserve space Used to conserve space

• Used to make use of a microclimateUsed to make use of a microclimate

TopiaryTopiary

BonsaiBonsai• Began in China, 2,000 years ago during the Began in China, 2,000 years ago during the

Han DynastyHan Dynasty

• In China it is called, “Penjing”In China it is called, “Penjing”

• Introduced to Japan in the 14th centuryIntroduced to Japan in the 14th century

• Introduced to the West after World War IIIntroduced to the West after World War II

The best friend on earth of man is The best friend on earth of man is the tree.the tree.

When we use the tree respectfully When we use the tree respectfully and economically,and economically,

we have one of the greatest we have one of the greatest resources of the earth.resources of the earth.

Frank Lloyd WrightFrank Lloyd Wright