Pruning Tips For Trees and Shrubs

Pruning is a vital part of any tree or shrub maintenance program. It helps keep plants healthy, enhances their beauty and increases the amount of fruit or flowers produced. It also reduces hazards associated with overgrown limbs, such as those that may fall during storms or block traffic or view. It can also help control plant diseases by removing infected or dead branches before they spread.

The first step in pruning is to remove all dead, broken or diseased limbs and stems from a tree or shrub. This should be done at any time of the year and should be done sooner rather than later to prevent the spread of disease to other areas. It will also allow the plant to focus its energy on producing new, healthy growth. Older wood that no longer produces flowers should also be removed as it can be an entry point for insects and disease into the rest of the plant.

Next, branches or limbs that cross or rub against each other should be pruned. This is especially important on larger trees where the crossing limbs can cause damage. The same is true for limbs growing inward toward the trunk. It is best to remove these limbs as they can create an access point for insects and can lead to weakly joined limbs that break easily in wind or storms. It is also a good idea to remove low-growing branches that are encroaching on structures, sidewalks or driveways.

Prune any limbs that are crowded out by other limbs to open up the canopy of a tree. This will allow more sunlight to penetrate, which in turn stimulates flower bud development and increases fruit production. It will also help with air circulation, which can decrease the stress on selected limbs from gravity, wind, ice and snow.

For some deciduous trees, such as maples and oaks, it is a good practice to thin the crown by removing some of the oldest branches. This allows the younger, more vigorous branches to grow without being crowded out. For evergreens such as pines and spruces, it is often necessary to prune their new buds (called ‘candles’) each spring to control their height. This is best done after the last frost in your area, when the candles are still quite small and have not yet started to expand into long needles.

Pruning can be performed at any time of the year, but it is most effective in late winter or early spring. This is because the dormant weather makes it easier to visualize a plant’s branch structure and cut away any dead or damaged limbs. It also allows the tree to concentrate its energy into developing new growth in the spring.

When selecting a pair of pruning shears, choose ones that have a bypass blade for live limbs and an anvil blade for dead limbs. Always make clean cuts that are a quarter of an inch above a bud or branch and avoid leaving stubs where possible.

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