Proper Pruning Techniques part 1

Author: Douglas F. Welsh, Extension Horticulturist; Everett Janne, Extension Landscape Horticulturist (retired)

In nature, plants go years with little or no pruning, but man can ruin what nature has created. By using improper pruning methods healthy plants are often weakened or deformed. In nature, every plant eventually is pruned in some manner. It may be a simple matter of low branches being shaded by higher ones resulting in the formation of a collar around the base of the branch restricting the flow of moisture and nutrients. Eventually the leaves wither and die and the branch then drops off in a high wind or storm. Often, tender new branches of small plants are broken off by wild animals in their quest for food. In the long run, a plant growing naturally assumes the shape that allows it to make the best use of light in a given location and climate. All one needs to do to appreciate a plant's ability to adapt itself to a location is to walk into a wilderness and see the beauty of natural growing plants.

Pruning, like any other skill, requires knowing what you are doing to achieve success. The old idea that anyone with a chain saw or a pruning saw can be a landscape pruner is far from the truth. More trees are killed or ruined each year from improper pruning than by pests. Remember that pruning is the removal or reduction of certain plant parts that are not required, that are no longer effective, or that are of no use to the plant. It is done to supply additional energy for the development of flowers, fruits, and limbs that remain on the plant. Pruning, which has several definitions, essentially involves removing plant parts to improve the health, landscape effect, or value of the plant. Once the objectives are determined and a few basic principles understood, pruning primarily is a matter of common sense.

The necessity for pruning can be reduced or eliminated by selecting the proper plant for the location. Plants that might grow too large for the site, are not entirely hardy, or become unsightly with age should be used wisely and kept to a minimum in the landscape plan. Advances in plant breeding and selection in the nursery industry provide a wide assortment of plants requiring little or no pruning. However, even the most suitable landscape plants often require some pruning. The guidelines presented in this publication should be helpful when pruning any plant.

Reasons for Pruning

• To train the plant
• To maintain plant health
• To improve the quality of flowers, fruit, foliage or stems
• To restrict growth

Plan Approach to Pruning

Pruning should follow a definite plan. Consider the reason or purpose before cutting begins.

By making the pruning cuts in a certain order, the total number of cuts is reduced greatly. The skilled pruner first removes all dead, broken, diseased or problem limbs by cutting them at the point of origin or back to a strong lateral branch or shoot. Often, removing this material opens the canopy sufficiently so that no further pruning is necessary.

The next step in pruning is to make any training cuts needed. By cutting back lateral branches, the tree or shrub is trained to develop a desired shape, to fill in an open area caused by storm or wind damage or to keep it in bounds to fit a given area. To properly train a plant, one should understand its natural growth habit. Always avoid destroying the natural shape or growth habit when pruning unless maintaining a close watch over the plant, for after a period of time it attempts to assume the more natural growth habit.

Make additional corrective prunings to eliminate weak or narrow crotches and remove the less desirable central leader where double leaders occur. After these cuts have been made, stand back and take a look at your work. Are there any other corrective pruning cuts necessary? If the amount of wood removed is considerable, further pruning may need to be delayed a year or so. Remove water sprouts unless needed to fill a hole or to shade a large limb until other branches develop.

Definitions of Terms

Broad-leaved evergreen---an evergreen plant with broad leaves that are not needle-shaped.
Caliperr---refers to the diameter of a tree. In nursery-landscape practice, caliper is measured 6 inches above the ground level up to and including 4-inch diameter size and 12 inches above the ground level for larger sizes.
Candle---refers to early spring growth of pine shoots before needle expansion.
Central leader---the main stem of the tree from which other branches develop. In most cases, it is the trunk.
Crotch---the angle developed between two connecting branches.
Deciduous---plants that normally have leaves only during the growing season and lose their leaves during the dormant season.
Dieback---the dying back of stems due to adverse weather conditions, insects, diseases or other causes.
Dormant---the period of the year when a plant is not growing.
Espalier---to train a plant on a wire or trellis against a wall or other support.
Lateral---a branch originating from the main trunk.
Multiple stemmed plants---plants with more than one stem form the base compared to plants with only a central leader.
Narrow-leaved evergreen---an evergreen plant with leaves that are needle-shaped.
Permanent branch---a branch that is part of the major growth habit of the tree, usually originating from the trunk.
Radial branch spacing---the distribution of branches around the trunk of a tree.
Scaffold branching---a permanent branch originating from the trunk and becoming a part of the major branching or framework of the tree.
Shearing---cutting back plants with hedge shears resulting in a very formal growth habit. Limit shearing to hedges, topiary or where a formal garden is to be maintained.
Sucker---a vigorous shoot originating from root or stem tissue below ground.
Temporary branch---a branch usually originating from the trunk that is removed by pruning after permanent branches have been selected.
Terminal---tip ends of branches.
Thinning---removal of connecting branches to point of origin or shortening the length of a branch by cutting to a lateral.
Training---to dictate the development and growth of a plant by physical means, such as pruning.
Vertical branch spacing---distribution of branches up and down the trunk of a tree.
Water sprout---vigorous shoot arising from the trunk or older branches.
Wound---area where the bark of a plant is cut or damaged.
Wound dressing--- a specially formulated material often called pruning paint, which is applied to tree wounds.

(from The Agriculture Program of the Texas A&M University System - Extension Horticulture Information Resource --- used by permission)