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Pruning
Pruning Tools
Hand clippers Scissor type Snapcut typePruning shearsLoppersPruning saw
Pruning
• Some plants are pruned routinely to maintain a desired size and shape.
• Pruning will promote new, healthy growth, flowering or fruit.
• Pruning will reduce the size of an overgrown plant.
• Plants damaged by insects, disease or environmental conditions need pruning to remove these damaged parts.
• Pruning is the most least understood technique and frequently done wrong.
Pruning Time
Plants that flower before June 1 (azaleas, dogwoods and
forsynthia) prune after the flowers have dropped.
Plants that bloom after June 1 (crepe myrtles, hibiscus and abelia) prune prior to spring
growth.
As a general rule of thumb:
Plants not grown for flowers can be pruned lightly anytime of the
year with heavy pruning saved for winter.
Pruning Techniqu
e• Remove branches that compete with the central leader
• Remove branches that grow inward or cross with other branches.
• Remove upright growth or water sprouts.
• Remove low growing branches that interfere with vision or maintenance.
• Remove suckers originating from below-ground growth.
Pruning ShrubsA properly pruned shrub should look natural and should not look as if it as been pruned.• Pruning cuts should not be visible.
• Pruning cuts should be made inside the plant.
• Remove all dead or damaged material first.
• Remove crossing branches.
• Remove older material on plants too dense.
• Head back excessively long branches to a bud or lateral branch 6-12 inches below the desired height.
• Do not use hedge shears. Cut each branch separately to differing lengths.
Pruning Technique
Pruning is a local effect
Pruning can control growth
Pruning TechniqueHeading vs.
ThinningHeading back or shearing is the indiscriminate cutting of the ends of vigorous of plants. This will produce a dense growth on the outside of the plant and may cause a bare interior due to loss of light.
Thinning, cutting selected branches back to a main branch, encourages new growth from the inside of the plant keeping it full. Thinning will also help to reduce size and provides for a fuller, more attractive plant.
Renewal PruningOvergrown plants, or those severely damaged from outside conditions, may need severe pruning.
• Renewal pruning is the cutting of a plant to within 6-12 inches of the ground.
• Best time for renewal pruning is midwinter.
• Renewal pruning will produce abundant growth by midsummer.
• As new shoots grow, prune them at a directional bud to encourage branching.
• Not all plants will respond favorably to renewal pruning.
• An alternative to renewal is a stepped pruning.
Pruning Techniqu
eTo remove heavy branches without damaging the tree, a three-cut sequence is recommended.
• First, cut one-fourth to one-half way through the lower side of the limb.• Make a second cut on the top of the limb a few inches away from the first.• Remove the remaining stub by cutting back to the branch collar.
Pruning TreesOnce the main framework of a tree is established, annual maintenance pruning is required.
• Prune limbs growing at narrow angles to the main trunk, less than 45 degrees.
• Remove branches that grow inward and threaten to rub.
• Remove branches that may inhibit routine management practices.
• Prune damaged limbs.
• Remove vigorous suckers or water sprouts.
• Remove branches that compete with the main trunk for dominance.
Pruning Vines & Ground CoversPruning vines and ground covers will depend on
plant vigor and will vary from year to year.
• Flowering vines need to be pruned the same time as flowering ornamentals.
• Prune to thin the canopy.
• Prune them to keep growth in bounds.
• Prune to rejuvenate their growth after winter damage, or insect and disease problems.
• Prune to encourage air movement within the plant.
• Prune to remove old growth on ground covers such as liriope and mondograss.
Pruning & Training HedgesHedges that are used as privacy screens should
be pruned properly early in its life to encourage a compact growth.
• Head back newly planted hedge shrubs to 12 inches form the ground.
• Prune new growth tips to encourage branching.
•To produce a dense shrub, continually prune to encourage new branching.
• Informal hedges are pruned using selective pruning and requires less maintenance.
• Formal hedges should be sheared and will require more maintenance.
• Always prune so the base is wider than the top.
Pruning RosesPrune roses when the buds start to swell in the
spring. Remove weak, diseased or spindly wood and leave 3-5 of the most vigorous canes.
Do not prune floribundas as heavily as hybrid teas.
Prune climbers after the first flush of growth removing old and diseases canes.