Pruning

Terms wpwpruning - removal of parts of the top or root systems of plants wfwfruit spur - stubby, fruit bearing twig

wtwtranslocation - movement of water and soluble minerals from one part of the plant to another

wiwinhibit - prohibit or slow action whwhormones - chemical compounds produced by plant. Regulate plant functions

wtwtwig - very small branch of a tree wcwcane - stem of various fruits. Ex: raspberry

wswshoot - small outgrowth on a bush

Facts wgwgenerally has no specific season wcwcontinuous process wswserves a purpose for the plant

wewenhances ornamental value wgwgenerally prune with natural form of the plant, not against it

Purposes wrwremove diseased, dead, or damaged limbs wrwrestrict or promote growth wdwdevelop certain forms of growth

Methods of pruning wrwroot wswshoot or stem

Stem pruning wrwreduces amount of growth wiwinfluences vegetative reproductive balance of the plant wrwreduces plant size, yield, and total amount of growth

wIwIncreases supply of essential elements to the points of growth that remain

wpwpromotes the making of cells and the utilization of carbohydrates wswstimulates vegetative phase, retards reproductive phase

Root pruning wawaffects total amount of growth made wrwreduces amount of available essential elements - causes dwarfing

wiwinfluences vegetative reproductive balance of plant wpwpromotes root growth

wfwfavors reproduction, retards vegetative phase wuwused to prepare plants for transplanting

Top Pruning whwheading back wtwthinning out

Heading back wtwterminal - top portion is removed wswstimulates development of more points of growth

wiwinduces compact, dense, or branched type of growth wrwremoves hormones that inhibit branching

Thinning out wewentire twig, cane, or shoot is removed wdwdoes not prevent development of lateral buds wiwinduces open type of growth

General rules wuwuse correct tools for the job wpwprune back to existing bud or to a side branch wnwnever leave a stub!!!!!!!!!!

wcwcut larger limbs in three steps wdwdraw the illustration on the board silly teacher! :)

General Rules wpwpruning in summer results in greater dwarfing than pruning in late winter months

wbwbuy and plant trees and shrubs that have the characteristics and shape that you want

Pruning tools wtwthumb and forefinger wpwpinch off shoots wpwpinch off unwanted buds, long stems, and fruit spurs wswsnap off faded blooms or seed pods

Edgers wewenable user to stand and cut the edges of lawns wawalso used on ground covers

Grass Shear wuwused to cut grass around sidewalks, driveways and planting beds

Lopping Shears wuwuse when added leverage is needed wuwused for reaching into trees wswsmall branches or twigs

Pruning Shears wmwmany types

Hedge Shears whwhand operated wewelectric or gas powered

Pruning Saws wcwcut quickly wuwuseful in overhead work wswstraight or curved

Pole Pruners & Saws wuwused to cut or saw branches high overhead wtwtelescoping - go up to 18 feet

How and When wDwDeciduous Shade Trees when - dormant - early spring before leafing out wewexception - bleeder trees - Mid June

Bleeder trees wSwSugar Maple

What to look for wCwCentral Leader - single leader wmwmultiple leaders - narrow crotch angles in time will break

What to Look for wswscaffold branches wcwcrotch angle degrees wlwlimbs spirally arranged wpwprune off lower limbs 8-10 feet high

wdwdistance vertically between scaffold branches wlwlowest branch on SW side wrwremove suckers - weak wood wrwremove hangers

wrwremove water sprouts wrwremove parts growing in toward center of trees

Fruit Tree Pruning wswspurs - majority of fruit production is borne on spurs wowopen tree up to let light into spurs wswspurs bear fruit every other year

Evergreens wdwdont respond well to pruning wbwbroadleaf - like deciduous flowering shrubs

Evergreens wnwneedle types - pines, spruce, fir, juniper, yews, respond better wswspruce or fir - single needle prune back to 1/4 inch above axillary bud

Junipers & Yews wawawl shaped needles wpwprune spring to mid summer when temperature is above freezing

Pine wcwcandle growth - new growth from tip of branches, milky green color wrwremove 1/3 to 1/2 of candle growth in the spring

Deciduous shrubs wswspring flowering - lilac, honeysuckle wswset flower buds during previous year wpwprune after flowering

Summer flowering wrwroses, hydrangia wswset flower buds same year that they flower in spring wpwprune before bud set

Deciduous shrubs wawavoid August and September pruning for all deciduous material