Pruning Your Trees and Shrubs

Pruning is the selective removal of plant parts including branches, buds, flowers and roots. It is a necessary activity for both soft-tissue (herbaceous) and woody plants (trees and shrubs). Pruning is the best way to maintain health, appearance and utility of the plant.

Various pruning techniques exist for specific outcomes, but two of the most valuable are thinning and heading. Thinning enhances light penetration and manages growth, while heading reduces a tree’s height or width. Many horticulturists use both thinning and heading to improve the structure of the plant and maximize its beauty and usefulness in the landscape.

Proper pruning can greatly increase the ability of a tree or shrub to resist storm damage and to survive harsh weather conditions such as high winds and heavy snow loads. A properly pruned tree can also better support other plants by allowing them to compete for sunlight and water.

Pruned trees and shrubs often require less watering, which can reduce irrigation expenses, and are usually more resistant to disease. They can also help improve the quality of your landscape by enhancing its appearance, and can provide shelter for wildlife and habitat.

In urban environments, proper pruning can greatly reduce the risk of property damage caused by wind and storms. It can also help to ensure that power lines are clear of overhead utility equipment, and provide safety for pedestrians and vehicles. In addition, pruning can be a preventative measure to address a potential problem before it becomes a safety or health concern.

A well-pruned plant is a beautiful addition to the landscape and can greatly increase the value of your property. It can also reduce maintenance costs by removing dead or insect-infested branches, as well as preventing disease and fungus from spreading to other areas of the plant.

Pruning can be done on both evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs. Generally, the best time to prune is during the dormant season. To determine the height of a tree, stand a distance away with a ruler extended in front of you, and have an assistant mark on the ruler where it meets the base of the tree. Alternatively, use a flexible tape measure to measure the circumference of the base of the tree – a figure that can be compared to the ruler measurement.

Spend a year observing how your plants grow, bloom, and fruit. The clues they leave behind can guide you in the pruning direction that’s right for them. For example, a flowering shrub will not bloom on the same branch again if spent flowers are not removed (deadheading). By observing the plant and understanding its response to pruning, you can prune it to achieve the desired effect each season. This is what Steve calls “formative pruning”. It can be a very effective tool in training a plant to the desired shape.

from Sunshine Coast Tree Lopping Caloundra https://ift.tt/mFA3DKB