Pruning Guide

YOUR GUIDE TO PRUNING

Trees and shrubs need pruning for several reasons:

To keep them as with shrubs healthy by removing weak, diseased, dead, or damaged wood.

To limit their size.

To make an attractive shape.

To stimulate flower buds for next season.

When to prune

Most plants trees and shrubs can be pruned at any time of the year without damaging their survival, there are however some recommended times, usually based on blooming or fruiting cycle.

Here are some pointers:

Trees and shrubs that bloom after June can be pruned in winter or in during early spring before any new growth begins. Such plants develop buds during the spring and flower later in the year.

Those that bloom before the end of June should be pruned immediately after flowering. Flower buds develop during the previous season’s growth and the flowers you enjoy in the spring developed during last season and throughout the winter. If you prune prior to spring blooming you’ll be cutting cut off next year’s flowers.

Some plants such as red-osier dogwood and mahonia, can be lightly pruned before and after flowering which often causes a second flush of bloom during the same season.

Fruit growing shrubs and trees should be pruned after the fruit drops even though the flowers develop earlier in the season.

Evergreens are best pruned in spring. Frequent light pruning will result in thick and fuller plants.

Some trees produce a heavy sap flow during the spring and if cuts are made at this time, they bleed, which although not causing injury to the tree, can leave unsightly marks. These trees are best pruned in late summer or Autumn.

How to Prune

Follow these guidelines.

· To shorten a branch, cut it back to a side branch or make the cut just above the bud.

· Prune above an outside facing bud to force the new branch to grow in that direction.

· Remove any inward-growing or crossing branches.

· Remove any branches near the base of the trunk.

· Remove any suckers that grow at the base of the trunk.