Pruning

Pruning Tools

Hand clippers Scissor type Snapcut typePruning shearsLoppersPruning saw

Pruning

• Some plants are pruned routinely to maintain a desired size and shape.

• Pruning will promote new, healthy growth, flowering or fruit.

• Pruning will reduce the size of an overgrown plant.

• Plants damaged by insects, disease or environmental conditions need pruning to remove these damaged parts.

• Pruning is the most least understood technique and frequently done wrong.

Pruning Time

Plants that flower before June 1 (azaleas, dogwoods and

forsynthia) prune after the flowers have dropped.

Plants that bloom after June 1 (crepe myrtles, hibiscus and abelia) prune prior to spring

growth.

As a general rule of thumb:

Plants not grown for flowers can be pruned lightly anytime of the

year with heavy pruning saved for winter.

Pruning Techniqu

e• Remove branches that compete with the central leader

• Remove branches that grow inward or cross with other branches.

• Remove upright growth or water sprouts.

• Remove low growing branches that interfere with vision or maintenance.

• Remove suckers originating from below-ground growth.

Pruning ShrubsA properly pruned shrub should look natural and should not look as if it as been pruned.• Pruning cuts should not be visible.

• Pruning cuts should be made inside the plant.

• Remove all dead or damaged material first.

• Remove crossing branches.

• Remove older material on plants too dense.

• Head back excessively long branches to a bud or lateral branch 6-12 inches below the desired height.

• Do not use hedge shears. Cut each branch separately to differing lengths.

Pruning Technique

Pruning is a local effect

Pruning can control growth

Pruning TechniqueHeading vs.

ThinningHeading back or shearing is the indiscriminate cutting of the ends of vigorous of plants. This will produce a dense growth on the outside of the plant and may cause a bare interior due to loss of light.

Thinning, cutting selected branches back to a main branch, encourages new growth from the inside of the plant keeping it full. Thinning will also help to reduce size and provides for a fuller, more attractive plant.

Renewal PruningOvergrown plants, or those severely damaged from outside conditions, may need severe pruning.

• Renewal pruning is the cutting of a plant to within 6-12 inches of the ground.

• Best time for renewal pruning is midwinter.

• Renewal pruning will produce abundant growth by midsummer.

• As new shoots grow, prune them at a directional bud to encourage branching.

• Not all plants will respond favorably to renewal pruning.

• An alternative to renewal is a stepped pruning.

Pruning Techniqu

eTo remove heavy branches without damaging the tree, a three-cut sequence is recommended.

• First, cut one-fourth to one-half way through the lower side of the limb.• Make a second cut on the top of the limb a few inches away from the first.• Remove the remaining stub by cutting back to the branch collar.

Pruning TreesOnce the main framework of a tree is established, annual maintenance pruning is required.

• Prune limbs growing at narrow angles to the main trunk, less than 45 degrees.

• Remove branches that grow inward and threaten to rub.

• Remove branches that may inhibit routine management practices.

• Prune damaged limbs.

• Remove vigorous suckers or water sprouts.

• Remove branches that compete with the main trunk for dominance.

Pruning Vines & Ground CoversPruning vines and ground covers will depend on

plant vigor and will vary from year to year.

• Flowering vines need to be pruned the same time as flowering ornamentals.

• Prune to thin the canopy.

• Prune them to keep growth in bounds.

• Prune to rejuvenate their growth after winter damage, or insect and disease problems.

• Prune to encourage air movement within the plant.

• Prune to remove old growth on ground covers such as liriope and mondograss.

Pruning & Training HedgesHedges that are used as privacy screens should

be pruned properly early in its life to encourage a compact growth.

• Head back newly planted hedge shrubs to 12 inches form the ground.

• Prune new growth tips to encourage branching.

•To produce a dense shrub, continually prune to encourage new branching.

• Informal hedges are pruned using selective pruning and requires less maintenance.

• Formal hedges should be sheared and will require more maintenance.

• Always prune so the base is wider than the top.

Pruning RosesPrune roses when the buds start to swell in the

spring. Remove weak, diseased or spindly wood and leave 3-5 of the most vigorous canes.

Do not prune floribundas as heavily as hybrid teas.

Prune climbers after the first flush of growth removing old and diseases canes.