The Joy of Pruning Why and how

The Joy of Pruning Why

The Joy of Pruning Why –Remove dead, damaged, diseased branches

The Joy of Pruning Why –Remove dead, damaged, diseased branches –Promote strong branch unions

The Joy of Pruning Why –Remove dead, damaged, diseased branches –Promote strong branch unions Prune where there is included bark

Tight crotch (<30°…)  Low strength, especially if there is included bark Prune when small

Photo courtesy of Joseph O’Brien, USDA Forest Service,

Double leaders  Low strength, common in green ash, spruce Prune when small

The 30° guideline is just that – a guideline …

The Joy of Pruning Why –Remove dead, damaged, diseased branches –Promote strong branch unions –Improve line-of-sight

The Joy of Pruning Why –Remove dead, damaged, diseased branches –Promote strong branch unions –Improve line-of-sight –Control plant size and shape (branch location)

The Joy of Pruning Why –Remove dead, damaged, diseased branches –Promote strong branch unions –Improve line-of-sight –Control plant size and shape (branch location) –Control flowering and fruiting (not covered)

The Joy of Pruning Why –Remove dead, damaged, diseased branches –Promote strong branch unions –Improve line-of-sight –Control plant size and shape (branch location) –Control flowering and fruiting (not covered) Why not?Why not?

The Joy of Pruning Why –Remove dead, damaged, diseased branches –Promote strong branch unions –Improve line-of-sight –Control plant size and shape (branch location) –Control flowering and fruiting (not covered) Why not?Why not? Remember, every time you remove live branches, you’re removing leaves, which are the tree’s “food factory”. Be cautious.

The Joy of Pruning Why How

The Joy of Pruning Why How –Heading cuts – cutting off part of a shoot or branch...

Okay if (1) you’re only cutting back the most recent year’s growth, and (2) there is a bud just below the cut, that can take over as leader.

Note the three long shoots that were stimulated, and are now competing to be the leader for this branch.

STEM/BRANCH Buds – provides next year’s branches, leaves and sometimes flowers.

Angle the cut just above a bud.

This bud should take over as new leader. These buds may also compete to be new leader; no longer under apical control of original leader.

Topping – heading cuts well beyond the most recent year’s growth. DON’T DO IT!

Topping – heading cuts well beyond the most recent year’s growth. DON’T DO IT! The salesman …

Bismarck, ND

Thessaloniki, Greece

Topping – a universal problem Ashley, ND Salt Lake City, UT

Pollarding – heading cuts followed by annual removal of new shoots

These shoots removed every year with pollarding

The Joy of Pruning Why How –Heading cuts –Thinning cuts – cutting back whole branches, to the point where they connect with other branches or the stem

Branch collar A-B-D Branch bark ridge C-E

Prune outside of branch collar A-B

Prune outside of branch collar A-B No flush cuts C-D

No stubs! (Cut them off)

What if there is no “branch collar”?

Make as small a wound as possible; cut at a right angle to the length of the branch.

Should I paint the wound to seal it off? Maybe use a wound dressing, or pruning paint?

NO! There is little scientific evidence to support their use. Some of them will actually harm the tree.

Latex paint, I think … 2003

Latex paint, I think … 2006

Show the order of cutting of the branch IncorrectCorrect Three-cut method for larger limbs

The Joy of Pruning Why How –Heading cuts –Thinning cuts –Very, very large branches...

The Danger of Pruning Why How –Heading cuts –Thinning cuts –Very, very large branches... hire a professional arborist

Show the order of cutting of the branch IncorrectCorrect Three-cut method for larger limbs

The Joy of Pruning Why How –Heading cuts –Thinning cuts –Large branches... hire a professional arborist –How much to remove?

The Joy of Pruning Why How –Heading cuts –Thinning cuts –Large branches... hire a professional arborist –How much to remove? – <~25%

The Joy of Pruning Why How –Heading cuts –Thinning cuts –Large branches... hire a professional arborist –How much to remove? – <~25% Remember, every time you remove live branches, you’re removing leaves, which are the tree’s “food factory”. Be cautious.

The Joy of Pruning Why How Tools...

The Joy of Pruning Why How Tools Extra tips and notes

The Joy of Pruning Why How Tools Extra tips and notes –Late winter/early spring is best EXCEPT FOR –Summer also acceptable EXCEPT FOR - elm, oak, honeylocust, mountain-ash, apple, birch

The Danger of Pruning Why How Tools Extra tips and notes –Late winter/early spring is best –Power lines – BE CAREFUL!

The Danger of Pruning Why How Tools Extra tips and notes –Late winter/early spring is best –Power lines – BE CAREFUL! Indirect contact between you and the power line can occur through a branch or a tool. Consider hiring a professional arborist.

The Joy of Pruning Why How Tools Extra tips and notes –Late winter/early spring is best –Power lines – BE CAREFUL! –Don’t prune (a lot) at planting...

The Joy of Pruning Why How Tools Extra tips and notes –Late winter/early spring is best –Power lines – BE CAREFUL! –Don’t prune (a lot) at planting... –Shearing – a mixture of thinning and indiscriminate heading to shape a shrub or conifer

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