Article

Tree and Shrub Care: Pruning

By Joey Reynolds

We prune trees and shrubs for a variety of reasons.

  1. To remove dead and diseased branches.
  2. To increase air circulation.
  3. To open the center to light.
  4. To increase fruit and flowering.
  5. To promote good shape.
  6. To keep the tree or shrub healthy.
  7. To control size.
  8. Safety reasons.

Removing dead and diseased branches goes along with keeping your plant healthy. Dead branches are unsightly; removing them will enhance the look of your plant. Disease branches should be removed to keep the disease from spreading through the rest of the tree resulting in its death.

Increasing air circulation is especially important to shallow rooted trees and shrubs. Pruning allows the air to pass between the branches, rather than putting pressure on the tree. Shallow-rooted trees and shrubs with crowded branches could be uprooted easier from strong winds.

Opening the center of the tree to allow light in, keeps the tree or shrub from dying-out in the center. It also helps promote fruit and flowering. This will force more buds to form.

Pruning promotes good shape in plants. You can restore or rejuvenate a neglected plant. You can maintain or bring-out the natural beauty of your trees and shrubs.

Pruning your trees and shrubs can be a safety issue. Removing low hanging branches that someone could hit when mowing or walking under a tree. You should remove long branches that are obstructing pathways where people walk, as they could scratch them or even be tripped over. Branches that obstruct views in street intersections, or hide road signs, should be removed. Dead trees that could fall on homes, people or in streets, should be removed by a professional tree service. It is important to keep trees or shrubs pruned that are close to homes, so people can not hide behind them.

Annual pruning will help control the size of your tres and shrubs. It can keep them from becoming overgrown, or help them to grow in smaller spaces.

When pruning, first you should stand back and look at the tree or shrub. The first thing you remove is dead or diseased branches. Then remove crossing or rubbing branches. Next remove suckers and water sprouts. Then you trim for size and shape. Decide if you need to cut or head-back the plant. Hedges can be sheared if necessary. Between each pruning step, stand back and look at the tree or shrub before you continue pruning.

You should know the proper time to prune your trees and shrubs. Most should be pruned in early Spring. Spring-flowering trees and shrubs should be pruned after they flower.