Tree & Shrub Pruning Naperville Community Gardens March 5, 2012 Stan Holat Autumn Tree
Pruning?
Pruning Locations
3-Cut Branch Removal
Why do we prune? Aesthetics Risk Reduction Plant Health Plant Growth Rate Tree structure-Subordinate Pruning
Tree Structure
Full length before
Close up before
Close up before 2
2nd Cut
Close up after
Close up reverse side
Full length after
Procedure 1.Choose straightest leader to remain. 2.Look for location to cut down to (1/2 of the length) 3.Try to keep the current shape. 4.Remove smaller competing branches.
Deciduous Shrub Pruning
Shrub Pruning Guidelines Know your shrubs Desired form Arrangement
Know your shrubs Species Cultivar/variety Characteristics History Site
Shrub Form Formal Natural
Arrangement Hedge Foundation Grouped
Methods of shrub pruning Shearing/Shaping Heading Renewal Rejuvenation
Shearing/Shaping Formal Higher Maintenance Caution of “dead zone” Foliage Shell Insect problems?
Hedge Tapering Bottoms must be wider than top to allow sunlight to lower branches to keep them green
Heading Maintain existing form Thinning and cutting back to laterals
Heading Heading to maintain size Heading cut
Renewal Pruning Stimulates new growth throughout shrub Remove older stems Prune out 1/3 rd each winter
Rejuvenation Cut ALL stems low