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

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

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

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

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

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

Pruning Time of year –Late winter/early spring is best –Elm, oak, honeylocust, mountain-ash, apple, birch – NOT in summer 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.

Pruning Don’t prune (a lot) at planting... Shearing – a mixture of thinning and indiscriminate heading to shape a shrub or conifer