1. Adapted from Teri Hamlin
Pruning
The appearance of a properly pruned plant is like a good hair cut: hardly noticeable at first glance.
Adapted from Teri Hamlin

2. Pruning Pruning at Planting: Do not prune to compensate for root loss
If quality plant stock, pruning is not necessary
Do not prune to compensate for root loss
latest research shows pruning does not help overcome transplant shock

3. Why Prune
Removal of dead, broken, diseased, or insect-infested branches
Maintain desired shape & size
Promote healthy vigorous growth
Promote flowering & fruiting

4. Pruning Tools Sharp & Sterile

5. Making the Cut
Directional Pruning

6. Making the Cut

7. Pruning Technique Heading Thinning Removes the entire shoot or limb
Removes a part of a shoot
Thinning
Removes the entire shoot or limb

8. cutting oldest branches to ground opens center and promotes new growth
Pruning Technique
Thinning Selectively
cutting oldest branches to ground opens center and promotes new growth

9. Pruning Time General Rule
Trees that flower before May
Prune after bloom
Dogwood, Redbud, Saucer Magnolia, Flowering Cherry
Trees that flower after May
Prune prior to spring growth
Crape Myrtle

10. Thinning and Heading Back Pruning

11. North Carolina Pruning Time
January - March
Broadleaf evergreen
Needleaf evergreen
Renewal Pruning
Large Tree Limbs

13. Pruning Young Tree A. Remove suckers
B. Low Growing Branches interfer w/maintenance practices
C. Upright growing shoots or waterspouts
D. Inward growing branches
E. Branches that compete with a central leader
Pruning Young Tree

14. Crown Thinning
No more than one-fourth of the living branches should be removed at one time

15. Remove branch from bottom to provide clearance
Crown Raising
Remove branch from bottom to provide clearance
After pruning the ratio of living crown to total tree height should be at least two-thirds

16. Crown Reduction
Ratio of live crown to total tree height should be at least two-thirds
Never cut main branches of tree back to stubs
(Topping Trees)

17. Large Limbs A. Make partial cut from underneath
B. Make a second cut from above several inches out
allows the limb to fall
C. Complete job with final cut just outside the branch collar

18. made through the branch collar will take 3x longer to heal
Pruning Limbs
An Improper Cut
made through the branch collar will take 3x longer to heal

19. Rejuvenating Restore overgrown shrubs
Cut all branches ” above ground

20. “Placebo” - making the user feel good
Pruning Paint
“Placebo” - making the user feel good
Research shows that paint or wound dressings do not stop decay nor cause the wound to close faster
Successful Pruning
Correct Tools
Correct Time
Correct Technique

21. Let’s try some virtual pruning…