Pruning Primer

Winter is the time to start evaluating the pruning needs for your shade and evergreen trees, Crape Myrtles and other flowering shrubs, hedges, groundcovers, and fruit and nut trees.  The purpose of pruning is to produce strong, healthy, attractive plants.  When evaluating your pruning needs, keep these objectives in mind:

To get rid of dead and damaged parts

To direct the growth of the branches (plant)

To encourage new growth

To fix some growth problems such as weakness

To prevent future problems, such as disease from lack of air circulation, damage from crossing branches, etc.

Before you start to prune anything, take a good look at it and make sure it really needs to be pruned!  Second, get the right tools for the job.

            Hand shears or hand clippers cut twigs less than one-half inch in diameter

            There are two basic types: anvil and bypass. Anvil pruners have a sharp upper           blade, which snaps down onto the blunt, lower anvil piece, while bypass pruners         operates more like scissors. It is the kind of cut these pruners make that is critical     to the plant. Anvil pruners, especially dull ones, can crush wood so it will not heal     properly post-cut. Sharp bypass pruners make cleaner cuts, provided they are used       correctly.

            Lopping shears are for branches one-half to one inch in diameter

            Pruning saws are for anything larger.

When you decide it is time 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.

·        To avoid transferring diseases from one plant to another, after pruning anything that may be diseased, disinfect tool blades with 70% ethyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol).

One pruning practice that needs to be changed is how crape myrtles are pruned. Often crape myrtles are severely cut back to short stubs. Research has shown that early winter pruning of crape myrtles can result in freeze damage.   Delay pruning until late February or early March, and remove no larger than pencil-sized twigs. Resist the urge to cut them back hard.

For more information on all types of plant and tree issues, visit http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu. 

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Last modified: 2-1-08 Designed by Nuovo Adventures  copyright 2008  caryleigh@verizon.net