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Pruning!. Equipment. Pruning, why do it?. Improve plant health. Increase light and air circulation in the canopy. Pruning, why do it?. Dead Dying Damaged Diseased Deranged Root suckers and water sprouts. Damaged. Deranged. Deranged. Root suckers. Water sprouts. Water sprouts.
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Pruning, why do it? • Improve plant health Increase light and air circulation in the canopy
Pruning, why do it? • Dead • Dying • Damaged • Diseased • Deranged • Root suckers and water sprouts
Plant size and form • Best to select plants which have desired features at maturity • Consider branch spacing and arrangement • Structural strength & safety • Work with natural form of tree/shrub
Safety! • Crotch angles “V” = Very bad! “U” = Ultimate! Right angle = Right on!
Crotch angles • “V” usually forms embedded or included bark • “U” often forms ridge bark Y
Pruning techniques • Heading back = selective removal of the ends of twigs or young branches to a node • Often has undesirable results such as multiple leaders • Drop-crotching = pruning back to a fork where there is a live branch (better) • Pinching = removal of soft, new growth of branch tips with your fingers
Pruning techniques • Thinning = complete removal of branches back to a lateral branch or main trunk
Pruning techniques • Raising the crown
Damaged branch collar
Improper pruning cuttings
Bacterial rot behind wound paint
Specialized pruning • Espalier • Topiary • Bonsai/Penjing
When to prune? • Trees are best pruned late in the dormant season or following a growth flush • If trees are pruned at other times, this often results in water sprouts • Worst time to prune? • When leaves are forming! (right now!)