Pruning Tips

Pruning is the process of removing diseased, dead, or unproductive plant material. It can also be used to shape and control size of landscape plants, to promote vigor and increase the yield of fruit-bearing trees, or to create highly specialized forms such as espaliers, topiaries, and pollards.

Pruning can be done at any time of year, but the best results are obtained during dormant season – in late fall or early spring. The time of pruning will depend on the species of tree or shrub and the reason for the work being performed.

The most important point to remember when pruning is that a well thought out plan must be made before the first cut is made. To quote Steve, “It is not so much the cutting as the planning that is essential.”

Observe the plant, and determine what the desired result will be. Then plan how to achieve that goal. For example, do you want to encourage more flowering, or is the main objective to keep the size of the plant within its bounds? Once the goal is established it becomes easier to make decisions about where and how to prune.

To help you with your planning, it is useful to know the natural growth habit of the plant. A good place to start is with the species’ native state or region in which it grows. This will give you an idea of the normal growth pattern for that species, and what you might expect when the plant matures.

If you have a young plant, it is important to allow it to develop its natural structure rather than force it into a certain shape or size with pruning cuts. This is particularly true for evergreens. Shearing a young shrub can result in a very dense, congested and unattractive plant, and it can also cause the plant to stop producing flowers or fruit.

For mature plants, a general rule is that any species that blooms between Christmas and late summer should be pruned after it finishes flowering, and those that are spring-flowering should be pruned in the winter before new growth starts. This is because these species flower on wood produced during the previous year’s growing season.

A key feature to recognize in any woody plant is the branch bark ridge, or branch collar. This feature appears as a slightly swollen area where the branch meets the trunk of the plant. When making any pruning cut, it is vital to ensure that the branch bark ridge remains intact. This is because the wound created by the pruning cut helps to compartmentalize the cut and prevent pathogens from entering the tree or shrub and causing disease or decay.

It is generally recommended that pruning be done using tools designed for the purpose. These may include hand shears, loppers, hedge trimmers, or chainsaws. There are also a number of specially formulated materials often called pruning paints that are applied to tree wounds. However, research indicates that these dressings are of little value since the swollen branch bark ridge and subsequent woundwood production by the plant provide the best defense against disease organisms and insects.

from Treby Tree Services https://trebytreeservices.wordpress.com/2025/05/25/pruning-tips-3/