1. 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.

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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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).

9. Control Shape
Hedge Shearing- creates privacy screens and windbreaks

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

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

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

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

20. Bonsai
intentional dwarfing

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

23. 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.

24. Bypass Pruners
Blade and bill slide past each other like scissors

25. Anvil Pruners
Blade chops against soft plate, usually metal

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

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