Title: Pruning
1Pruning
- presentation and activities prepared by Andrea
Burke
2Pruning What is it?
3What is Pruning?
- Pruning is the removal of
- A) flowers past their prime
- B) dead, broken, or diseased branches on a tree
- C) roots in a potted plant overgrowing their pot
- D) branches on a shrub that are crossing and
chafing - E) A, B, C, and D
- F) just B and D
4What is Pruning?
- Pruning is the removal of
- A) flowers past their prime
- B) dead, broken, or diseased branches on a tree
- C) roots in a potted plant overgrowing their pot
- D) branches on a shrub that are crossing and
chafing - E) A, B, C, and D
- F) just B and D
- If you guessed E, Congratulations, youre smarter
than a 5th grader!
5What is Pruning?
- Selective removal or reduction of certain plant
parts that are not required, are no longer
effective, or are of no use to the plant in order
to improve the health, value, or beauty of the
plant. - Although shoots and branches are the main targets
for removal, roots, flower buds, fruits and seed
pods may also be pruned.
6Who Can Prune?
- Anyone you trust with scissors and sharp objects
can prune trees and shrubs
- Even small children can help prune (AKA
deadhead) gone-by flowers in the garden - If you have ever mowed your lawn, you have
already pruned the grass!
photo courtesy of Andrea Burke
7Is Pruning Necessary?
- Some species require pruning no matter where they
are for optimum flowering, growth, or fruiting. - Choosing the proper plant for a location will
minimize the amount of pruning needed. - Always follow the Goldilocks Principle
Image from Purdue Cooperative Extension,
http//www.ces.purdue.edu/vanderburgh/horticulture
/weird/9ftclearance.htm
8Pruning Why Bother?
- The Many Reasons Why we Prune
9Why do we prune?
- Increase the value and beauty of landscape plants
- Influence fruiting and flowering
Image courtesy of Andrea Burke
10Why do we prune?
- Restrict growth or size of the plant
Before
After
Images courtesy of Andrea Burke
11Why do we prune?
- To train the plant to grow a certain way
Images courtesy of Matthew Trump and Dake,
commons.wikimedia.org
12Why do we prune?
- Helps maintain plant health
- Can limit spread of disease
- Removes dead, diseased, or broken branches
- Pruning a dense canopy lets in more air and
sunlight - Pruning old trees or shrubs helps rejuvenate them
- Prevent personal injury or property damage
13Tools of the Trade
- Scissors, Saws, and Power Tools
14Tools of the Trade
- Hand pruning shears
- For stems up to ¾ inches in diameter
- Bypass pruners
- Scissor type blades that overlap
- More expensive, but make cleaner, closer cuts
- Anvil pruners
- Straight upper blades that cut against flat lower
plates - Usually cheaper, but tend to crush stems as they
cut
Images from Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension
15Tools of the Trade
- Lopping shears
- Have long handles to give you extra reach and
better leverage - High quality loppers can cut through about 2 or
more inches, depending on the hardness of the
wood (oak vs. ash) and condition (live or
rotting) - Ratchet joints and gears assist best in heavy
duty jobs
Image from University of Minnesota Cooperative
Extension
16Tools of the Trade
- Pruning saws
- Useful for cutting larger branches (over 1 inch
diameter) - Fine toothed, curved saws are good for branches
up to 2 diameter - Coarse toothed saws are better for branches 3 or
more in diameter
Images from Texas AM Cooperative Extension
17Tools of the Trade
- Hedge shears
- For shearing plants into hedges
- Can be manual or power
- Cut small, succulent stems best
Images from Texas AM Cooperative Extension
18Tools of the Trade
- Pole pruners
- Cutter with one hooked blade above and a cutting
blade beneath, like lopping shears - Cutter is on a pole and operated by pulling a
rope downward - Cut out of reach branches up to 2 in diameter
Image from Texas AM Cooperative Extension
19Tools of the Trade
- Chain saws
- Come in a variety of sizes and strengths
- May be gas or electric powered
- For removing branches greater than 3 diameter
- Best for removing trees and cutting firewood
- Always follow safety precautions when using a
chainsaw. The limb you save may be your own.
20Caring for your Tools
- Clean and oil tools regularly, including oiling
blades and other metal surfaces - When pruning diseased plants, disinfect shears
and blades between cuts with a solution of one
part bleach to nine parts water. Oil well at the
end of the day to avoid rust. - Store in a dry room
- Keep cutting edges sharp
- Paint, varnish, or treat wooden handles regularly
with linseed oil - Always use tools properly and follow
manufacturers directions
21How To Prune
22Before You Cut Have A Pruning Plan
- Prune first for SAFETY, next for HEALTH, and
finally for AESTHETICS - Step 1 SAFETY Dead, broken, or problem limbs
- Step 2 HEALTH Disease or insect-infested wood
- Step 3 AESTHETICS Make the tree grow in the
desired shape or fill in gaps
23General Guidelines for Making Cuts
- All pruning cuts should be clean and smooth for
best healing - Make sure your tools are sharp!
- Do not leave stubs
- Avoid tearing bark
- Remember animals wounds heal, plant wounds seal
- Wound dressing is unnecessary
- Sometimes useful to prevent the spread of
diseases (oak wilt and Dutch elm disease)
24Making Cuts Properly
- Remove as much branch as possible without
damaging the trunk or stem. - Cut beginning just outside the branch bark ridge,
angling down away from the stem of the tree,
avoiding the branch collar
Image from USDA Forest Service
25Making Cuts Properly
- Branches big enough to require a saw should be
supported with one hand during cutting - If the branch is too heavy to support, make a
three-step cut to prevent ripping (see diagram)
Image from USDA Forest Service
26Pruning Begins at Planting!
- Pruning a tree while it is young is preventative
maintenance! - At planting remove dead, diseased, or broken
branches - The first winter begin to train the tree
27Pruning Begins at Planting!
- Pruning young shrubs is not as critical as young
trees - Good pruning practices encourage the best
branching structure - For bare root shrubs, thin branches for good
spacing - Prune broken, diseased, or crossing/circular
roots - Newly planted shrubs require little pruning if
they were container-grown or dug with a soil ball
28Pruning a Larger Tree
- Most pruning of large trees requires specialized
equipment and should be left to qualified,
insured professionals - Consider the natural form of the tree whenever
possible - Three main ways to prune a large tree
- Crown thinning
- Crown raising
- Crown reduction least desirable
29Crown Thinning
- Selectively remove branches throughout the crown,
focusing on weak branches - Develops or maintains a trees structure and form
- Promotes better form and health by increasing
light penetration and air movement - Never remove more than ¼ of the living crown
Image from USDA Forest Service
30Crown Raising
- Remove lower branches to allow more clearance
above lawns, sidewalks, streets, etc. - On younger trees, maintain temporary branches to
encourage taper and protect trees from vandals
and sun scald
Image from USDA Forest Service
31Crown Reduction
- Remove large branches at the top to reduce tree
height - Different from topping, because no stubs are left
- A last resort, as large pruning wounds may lead
to decay - Better long term solution is to plant a shorter
tree
Image from USDA Forest Service
32Pruning a Larger Tree Repairing Injury
- Remember Plant wounds dont heal, they seal
- Injury to bark
- Cut away damaged bark
- Shape the edge of the wound to an elongated
ellipse if possible - Remove splintered wood and smooth exposed area
with a chisel
33Pruning a Larger Tree Repairing Injury
- Cavities or hollows in the main trunk
- Create weep holes if water is not draining
- Keep the cavity clean of debris and leaves
- It is not necessary to fill the cavity with
anything - Storm damage or lightning strike
- Remove broken branches and reshape the tree as
much as possible - Remove branches shattered or damaged by lightning
- Split crotches or cracked limbs may be mended by
professional arborists
34Pruning Shrubs
- 3 main ways
- Thinning
- Gradual Renewal
- Rejuvenation
35Pruning Shrubs - Thinning
- The goal of thinning a shrub is to open the plant
and allow in more sunlight and airflow - Thinning does not stimulate excess new growth,
but does open room for side branches to grow - Cut off branch or twig to its point of origin on
the parent branch, to a side branch, or at ground
level - Cut the oldest and tallest stems first (this
allows for side branch development)
36Pruning Shrubs Gradual Renewal
- Gradual renewal removes all top-growth over 3
years, encouraging new stems to grow from the
roots - The first year, remove 1/3 of the oldest,
thickest branches at or just above ground level - The second year, remove 1/2 of the remaining old
stems and tip back long shoots growing from the
previous pruning cuts - The third year, remove remaining old wood and tip
back the new shoots
37Pruning Shrubs - Rejuvenation
- Rejuvenation involves severely cutting all the
branches of a shrub to a set height, usually
6-12 above ground, before new growth begins in
the spring - Rejuvenate every 3-5 years, or when the shrub
begins to look excessively leggy
38Pruning Shrubs - Rejuvenation
- Some examples of plants that tolerate
rejuvenation - Rose of sharon, forsythia, privet, honeysuckle,
elderberry, spiraea, potentilla, red-twig
dogwood, lilac, and most Hydrangea - Examples of plants that do NOT tolerate
rejuvenation - Boxwood, juniper, pine, cypress, cedar,
arborvitae, yew, and other narrow leaf evergreens - Shrubs with excessive amounts of dead branches
(more than 1/3)
39Pruning Shrubs
Image from Texas AM Cooperative Extension
40Pruning Hedges
- Prune hedges often, approximately after every 6
to 8 inches of growth, to within 2 inches of the
last pruning - Prune up to twice a year, in the spring and again
in mid-summer - Ideally, the hedge should be wider at the base
than at the top, to allow equal access to
sunlight and prevent legginess
Images from Texas AM Cooperative Extension
41Pruning Hedges Can Be Fun!
Image Courtesy of Stephanie Weber
42Pruning Roses
- Hybrid Teas, Floribundas, and Grandifloras
- To encourage large blooms suitable for cutting,
cut back all but 3 to 5 of the healthiest, most
vigorous canes in early spring just as buds begin
to swell - Prune these 3-5 canes to 15-18 from the ground
- Prune away weak, small, or short stems (anything
thinner than a pencil should be cut)
Image Courtesy of Stephanie Weber
43Pruning Roses
- Climbing roses, Old-fashioned rambling roses
- These bloom on last years growth, so do not
prune until after flowering - Remove oldest stems, leaving 5 7 strong canes
untouched. Remember, the stems you leave will
bear next years flowers. - Old Garden Roses
- Hard pruning can ruin their graceful shape
- Remove no more than 1/3 of each bush
- Generally remove old stems that are no longer
productive
44Pruning Evergreens
- Most evergreens seldom require pruning
- Prune a little each year so that severe pruning
is not needed - Its better to buy a dwarf plant than do a lot of
pruning on many evergreens - When pruning narrow leaved evergreens, never cut
into the bare wood beyond the foliage - Many evergreens do not have buds on older twigs,
and the shrub may never recover - Only cut the central trunk if you are trying to
eliminate a multiple leader (such as when the
tree is young)
45Pruning Evergreens
- Spruces, Firs, and Douglas Firs
- Have lateral buds that will grow if the terminal
bud is removed - Pines
- Removing terminal buds will take away growing
points for that branch, leading to dead stubs - To promote more dense growth you may remove up to
2/3 of the new growth - Do NOT prune past current years growth!
- Arborvitae, Junipers, Yews, and Hemlocks
- Tolerate heavy shearing
- Natural form is usually the most attractive
46Activity
47This Young Tree Needs Some Help
- There are six cuts that need to be made on this
tree. - Determine which branches should be cut, and why!
Image adapted from University of Minnesota
Cooperative Extension
48This Young Tree Needs Some Help
Image from University of Minnesota Cooperative
Extension
49When to Prune
50When to Prune Rules of Thumb
- Pruning at the wrong time of the year usually
doesnt kill your plant, but can damage it - Continually pruning your plant at the wrong time
CAN cause permanent damage and/or death to the
plant - In general, the best time to prune is in late
winter to early spring, before the seasons
growth begins - Generally, the worst time to prune is immediately
after new growth begins in the spring - The second worst time to prune is in late summer
- Dead branches can be pruned at any time
51General Guidelines for Timing
- Prune before breakfast, not before bed
- Generally prune in the spring, not fall
- Hair cuts after the prom, not before
- Prune spring plants right after bloom, not before
- Diet before Vacation, not after
- Prune summer plants before they bloom, not after
- When you move, it is a good time to clear out the
junk - Root prune and top prune plants if they need it
when you transplant them
52Spring Flowering Shrubs
Image courtesy of Stephanie Weber
53Spring Flowering Shrubs
- Bloom in the spring on previous seasons growth
- Examples include lilac, forsythia, and
rhododendron - Pruning time will vary based on condition of the
plant - Shrubs only requiring light pruning
- Prune immediately after bloom
- Old, neglected, severely overgrown shrubs
- May require extensive pruning
- Rejuvenate by pruning in late winter or early
spring (March to early April) - This will reduce or eliminate this and possibly
next years flower display, but greatly increase
the long-term health of the shrub
54Summer Flowering Shrubs
- Bloom in the summer on current years growth
- Examples include potentilla, Rose of Sharon,
hydrangea, and spirea - Prune in late winter or early spring
- This will allow for bloom in the coming summer
Image courtesy of Stephanie Weber
55Other Deciduous Shrubs
- Many deciduous shrubs dont produce showy
flowers, but may have striking bark, fruit, or
fall leaf color - Prune these in late winter or early spring before
growth begins - Do NOT prune these in late summer or early fall
(any time after mid-July)
56Roses
- Repeat blooming roses (floribunda, hybrid teas)
- Prune heavily in the spring, just as the buds
begin to break dormancy (begin to swell)
- Roses that bloom once a year (old-fashioned roses
and climbers) - Prune immediately after flowering
- Do NOT prune heavily in early spring, since they
bloom on wood from the previous years growth
57Evergreen Shrubs
- Examples of evergreen shrubs include juniper,
yew, and arborvitae - Prune in late March to mid-April before new
growth begins - Some light pruning may be done in late June or
early July
Image courtesy of Chris Evans, River to River
CWMA, Bugwood.org
58Deciduous Trees
- Examples of deciduous trees include oak, maple,
and birch - Deciduous trees may be pruned anytime during the
year - The BEST time to prune is late winter to early
spring, before the leaves are out on the trees
- Some trees with high sap pressure (such as maple)
will bleed heavily when pruned at this time,
but this is not harmful to the tree
Image courtesy of Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest
Service, Bugwood.org
59Deciduous Trees
- Avoid pruning oaks from April 15 to July 1
because of the risk of oak wilt fungus. - Oaks can be safely pruned in February and March.
Image courtesy of Chris Evans, River to River
CWMA, Bugwood.org
60Fruit Trees
- Prune from late February to early April
- Spring and summer pruning increases infection and
the spread of fireblight - Plants susceptible to fireblight, such as apple
and pear, should ONLY be pruned during the
dormant season
- Fruit trees pruned in the fall may be more prone
to winter injury
Image courtesy of Joseph LaForest, University of
Georgia, Bugwood.org
61Grape Vines and Raspberries
- Prune grape vines in March or early April
- A hard frost in late winter can damage the canes
and buds if vines are pruned too early - Vines will bleed heavily when pruned at this
time, but the bleeding will not harm the vine - Prune raspberries in March or early April
- Summer bearing raspberries should also be pruned
in the summer. Remove old fruiting canes after
the crop has been harvested.
62Annual Pruning At a Glance
- Late winter (before the leaves are out)
- Deciduous trees (never prune oaks April 1 July
1) - Fruit trees (late Feb to early April)
- Late winter/early Spring (March to early April)
- Summer-flowering shrubs
- Hard pruning of severely overgrown
spring-flowering shrubs - Other deciduous (non-blooming) shrubs
- Grape vines and raspberries
- Evergreen shrubs
- Late spring (May and June)
- Spring-flowering shrubs (when theyre done with
their bloom)
63Exceptions to the Rules
- Prune at any time to correct damage to limbs,
vandalism, or hazards created by weather or other
causes - Formal hedges and specialty pruning like espalier
and bonsai require more frequent maintenance than
informal hedges, or plants maintained in their
natural form - Exact timing of pruning will vary across climate
zones. Follow cues from the plant to determine
ideal time of pruning.
64Activity
65When Should I Prune My ?
- You have recently started answering phones for
your local countys Extension helpline. Everyone
in the county seems pruning happy today youve
already gotten six calls from people wanting to
know if now is a good time to prune various
plants in their yard. Luckily, youve just gone
over your pruning notes, so you think youll be
able to field these calls! - Break out into small groups and discuss when you
would tell the homeowner to prune their precious
plants.
66When Should I Prune My ?
- Mr. Henry Printer calls in, worried that a recent
thunder storm in the area broke several huge
limbs off of a mighty river oak on his property.
Some of the limbs are still attached to the tree,
but weakly, while others have completely
detached, leaving big, gaping wounds. It is now
late May. What should he do?
67When Should I Prune My ?
- Mr. Joseph Dokes wants to know if he should prune
his broom now (its early June), or wait until
later in the season.
- Broom blooms in the spring the last of this
years blossoms has just fallen off the plant. - Mr. Dokes says his plants need a lot of work!
Image courtesy of Stephanie Weber
68When Should I Prune My ?
- Johnny Brook wants to help his Grandma fix up her
garden. He noticed that she has a lot of
evergreens like yew, arborvitae, and rhododendron
that are overgrowing the front windows of her
house. He wants to know when to prune these
plants to maximize their beauty.
69When Should I Prune My ?
- Mrs. Jorkins wants to know when she should prune
her hydrangea. Its mid October and the flowers
still look lovely on it, but she thinks the plant
is starting to look a little leggy. - She says she does not know the cultivar, but her
ex-gardener used to cut it back to the ground
sometimes with good results.
Image courtesy of Stephanie Weber
70When Should I Prune My ?
- Rigoberto Menchu recently bought some new
bare-root rose plants for his wife. She loves
the flowers, but isnt much of a gardener. He
wants to know what maintenance will keep his
wifes roses looking spectacular all year round.
71When Should I Prune My ?
- Miss Informed just moved into the area, and finds
to her dismay that the lovely low-maintenance
peach and apple orchard advertised in the real
estate agents ad is actually severely overgrown
and in bad need of maintenance. She wants to
get it back under control. When should she start?
72Love Hurts
73Topping and Tipping
- Topping is the pruning of large upright branches
between nodes, sometimes done to reduce the
height of the tree - Tipping is cutting lateral branches between nodes
to reduce crown width
- Consequences
- Death of the cut branch back to the next lateral
branch below - Epicormic sprouts, which are only weakly attached
to the steam and eventually will be supported
only by a decaying branch.
Images from USDA Forest Service
74Topping, AKA Tree Abuse
Images courtesy of Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest
Service, Bugwood.org
75Improper Cuts
- Improper pruning cuts cause unnecessary injury
and bark ripping (AKA, the Nearly Headless Nick
cut) - Flush cuts injure stem tissues and can result in
decay - Stub cuts delay wound closure and can allow
pathogens to enter the plant
Images from USDA Forest Service
76How to Tell
- The quality of a cut is evident after one growing
season - A concentric ring of wound wood will form around
a proper pruning cut - Flush cuts (cutting too close) will show excess
wound wood on the sides with very little on the
top or bottom - Stub cuts (cutting too far) result in dead branch
tissue. Wound wood forms from stem/trunk tissue,
so wound closing is delayed.
77Bark Ripping
Images courtesy of Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest
Service, Bugwood.org
78Flush Cutting
Images courtesy of Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest
Service, Bugwood.org
79Stubs
- The longer the stub, the more food youve set out
for wood-decaying fungi - If you can hang your hat on it, its too long!
Joseph LaForest, University of Georgia,
Bugwood.org
Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
80Pruning Safety Use Common Sense!
Images courtesy of Purdue Cooperative Extension,
http//www.ces.purdue.edu/ces/vanderburgh/horticul
ture/weird/pruning.htm
81Pruning Safety Use Common Sense!
Images courtesy of Purdue Cooperative Extension,
http//www.ces.purdue.edu/ces/vanderburgh/horticul
ture/weird/pruning.htm
82Activity
- Proper Pruning or Hack Job?
83Proper Pruning or Hack Job?
- Break up into groups and look at your handouts
showing pictures of various pruning cuts. - Was the tree in your picture properly pruned or
not? - If not, what was done wrong?
84Proper Pruning or Hack Job?
Image courtesy of Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest
Service, Bugwood.org
85Proper Pruning or Hack Job?
Image courtesy of Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest
Service, Bugwood.org
86Proper Pruning or Hack Job?
Image courtesy of Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest
Service, Bugwood.org
87Proper Pruning or Hack Job?
Image courtesy of Fred Baker, Utah State
University, Bugwood.org
88Proper Pruning or Hack Job?
Image courtesy of Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest
Service, Bugwood.org
89Proper Pruning or Hack Job?
Image courtesy of Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest
Service, Bugwood.org
90Proper Pruning or Hack Job?
Image courtesy of Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest
Service, Bugwood.org
91Proper Pruning or Hack Job?
Image courtesy of Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest
Service, Bugwood.org
92Proper Pruning or Hack Job?
Image courtesy of Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest
Service, Bugwood.org
93Proper Pruning or Hack Job?
Image courtesy of Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest
Service, Bugwood.org
94Proper Pruning or Hack Job?
Image courtesy of A. Steven Munson, USDA Forest
Service, Bugwood.org
95Proper Pruning or Hack Job?
Image courtesy of Joseph LaForest, University of
Georgia, Bugwood.org
96Proper Pruning or Hack Job?
Image courtesy of Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest
Service, Bugwood.org
97Proper Pruning or Hack Job?
Image courtesy of Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest
Service, Bugwood.org
98Proper Pruning or Hack Job?
Image courtesy of Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest
Service, Bugwood.org
99Proper Pruning or Hack Job?
Image courtesy of USDA Forest Service -
Northeastern Area Archive, USDA Forest Service,
Bugwood.org
100Pruning
101Resources The Internet
- You can find a wealth of information by searching
Google.com - Only trust reputable sites
- Universities and Cooperative Extension offices
are best - USDA and other government sites
- Take what you read on store and company websites
with a grain of salt - Remember, just because theyre selling something
doesnt mean you need it
102Some Useful Web Pages
- Colorado State University Extension Pruning
Flowering Shrubs - http//cmg.colostate.edu/gardennotes/619.pdf
- North Carolina State University Extension
Pruning Shrubs - http//www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsh
eets/shrubs/text/pruning.html - Pennsylvania State University Pruning
Ornamental Plants - http//pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/AGRS95.pdf
- Texas AM Extension Follow Proper Pruning
Techniques - http//aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/pruni
ng/pruning.html - University of Minnesota Extension Pruning
Trees and Shrubs - http//www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticul
ture/DG0628.html - USDA Forestry Service How to Prune Trees
- http//www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/howtos/ht_prune/
prun001.htm - Virginia Cooperative Extension A Guide to
Successful Pruning Pruning Basics and Tools - http//www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/nursery/430-455/430-455
.html - There are others!!!
103Other Resources
- Extension Agents, Professors, Other Specialists
- Libraries and Bookstores
104Any Questions?