Pruning Your Trees and Shrubs

Pruning is a key factor in maintaining the health and appearance of trees and shrubs. Proper pruning can reduce risk to people and property, encourage growth, and improve fruit production. While all plants respond differently to pruning cuts, there are some general guidelines that can be applied across species. Pruning should be done with a definite plan or goal in mind, and all cuts should have a purpose.

Most importantly, observing a plant over time can help guide you to making good pruning decisions. This means noticing when it blooms, what its growth habits are, when it dies, and how the plant looks in its natural setting. It also means taking note of where the plant is growing, its condition, and how it interacts with other plants.

Once you understand the clues that a plant gives, it is possible to prune almost any type of plant to fit your landscape needs. For example, a crape myrtle can be pruned to minimize the size of the canopy while still providing ample flower buds. Spring blooming plants such as azalea, rhododendron, mountain laurel, forsythia, and lilac should be pruned soon after they finish flowering in the spring. This allows the plant to replace the flowers with new foliage and promote strong summertime growth, resulting in plenty of blossoms the following year.

It is important to prune trees and shrubs early in the season, before their new growth begins, to avoid large pruning wounds. It is also desirable to remove broken or damaged branches as they occur, or before the start of a stormy weather event. It is often easier to make certain pruning cuts in winter, when it is easier to see the shape of a tree without its leaves.

The main goals of most pruning are to promote plant health, manage the growth of the plant, and enhance its aesthetic qualities. This is generally achieved by removing diseased or insect-infested wood, thinning the crown to allow airflow and reduce pest problems, reducing height and spread, and removing crossing or rubbing branches. Pruning can also be used to create specific shapes such as espaliers, pollards, and topiaries.

Pruning can also be used to manage a tree for utility purposes, such as removing lower branches for pedestrian or vehicular clearance, or to provide light and power lines with adequate access. Topping is a more severe form of pruning, typically done to trees that are overgrown or in decline to stimulate regrowth and improve tree health. It is often employed in orchards to increase fruit production and maintain a low cropping density.

Finally, pruning can be used to prevent or alleviate structural defects of a tree, such as weak or leaning trunks, crooked or crooked branches, or branches that rub against other branches or buildings. It can also be used to reduce the weight of a tree, which may be causing damage or hazards, or to prepare a young tree for a more formal training regime such as hedging or espaliers.

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