Pruning the removal of certain plant parts that are not required, that are no longer effective, or that are of no use to the plant. Simply stated, the removal of part of the plant for the benefit of all the plant.

Why We Prune Maintain plant health Direct or control growth Increase growth Increase fruit/flower production Remove Undesirable Growth Public Safety Protect Investment

Maintaining Plant Health All plants benefit when you remove the 3 D’s- dead, diseased, and damaged redirects growth and heals t damage quickly can prevent the total loss of storm-damaged plants

Directing/Controlling Growth Direct Growth: stops growth in one direction and encourages it in another undesirable branches can be removed can be pruned to fulfill a particular function, such as a climbing tree for kids.

Control Growth: Plants in landscape settings are part of the overall landscape design, they need to be pruned in order to preserve the landscape design. Plants need pruning in order to prevent growing into the house, resting on the roof, blocking windows and views.

Increase Flower & Fruit Production Increase Production of Flowers & Fruit: produces & promotes annual crops of fruit & blossoms Increase Plant Vigor: encourages old growth to give way to new wood & growth which is more resistant to disease and pest also allows the sun and air to penetrate the interior of the plant, which helps the foliage grow

Remove Undesirable Growth Remove the 3 D’s: Dead, Diseased, and Damaged- Examples Below Waterspouts- Vertical Shoots From Branches Suckers- Shoots From the Base of a Tree or Shrub Crossing or Rubbing Branches Excess Growth Long Awkward Limbs

Public Safety to keep from becoming a tripping hazards to reduce cover for potential attackers Pruning large trees and shrubs is important for sightlines (for example, at street signs or intersections).

Control Shape Hedge Shearing- creates privacy screens and windbreaks

Espalier Espalier - training plants to grow flat by means of a trellis, wire, hooks, or supports.

Topiary Topiary- is shearing of a plant to create a geometric form or an object.

Pleaching Pleaching- canopy becomes a “hedge”. The trunks are prominent but the canopies are interweaved.

Pollarding Pollarding -heading back all new growth of a tree to the point of origin. The crown remains the same size each year.

Bonsai intentional dwarfing

Protecting Investment Mature, well-kept landscape plants make residential property more valuable. protects the initial investment made in landscape plants and landscape design.

Timing the best time to prune a woody plant is late winter or early spring. least lost of the plant’s stored food reserves (sugars) and pruning cuts heal very quickly. leaves are gone so it’s easy to see branches and where the cuts need to be made.

Bypass Pruners Blade and bill slide past each other like scissors

Anvil Pruners Blade chops against soft plate, usually metal

Folding Saw Multi-toothed saw, used for removing larger branches

Electric Hedge Trimmer Teeth on two separate plates move back and forth Shandon Agriculture Department- Mrs. Deanna Cargill