by L. Woodrow Ross

Created on: February 07, 2008

Many homeowners and gardeners are reluctant to try to prune trees and shrubs. With a little instruction and help, you can learn the details and keep yours attractive and healthy.

One of the first things that you need to know is that trees and shrubs should be trimmed when they are dormant. This will keep the plant from being damaged and avoid "bleeding" of the sap from the location of the cuts. Winter would be the time for most pruning chores. January or February would be good choices for most locations.

The only exceptions to this advice would be in the case of blooming shrubs such as azaleas. These should be pruned back or thinned immediately after the blooming cycle is complete. If you wait until winter, you will cut off the buds that would form the next springs blooms.

If you plan to do much pruning, seek out printed material related to the trees, shrubs or vines that you will be pruning. They should provide printed instructions for various species and have illustrations showing where the cuts should be made.

Different trees should be pruned into different shapes. Apple trees should have a pyramid shape, but peaches and plums should have a flatter, umbrella shape. When pruning the limbs, locate the bud and cut just past the bud at an angle. If you desire that next season's limb sprout in an outward direction, cut it at a bud on that side of the limb. If the bud is on the left, that is the direction that the new sprout will follow.

If a tree has been neglected, it may take a couple of years to get it back to the shape that you desire. If you take too much growth at one time, you may not have fruit that year and the shock to the tree will be greater.

Be sure that you have the proper equipment and that it is sharp and dependable. For small shrubs, short handled pruning shears will be okay, but for bigger tree limbs, long handled, durable pruners are required and pruning saws may be needed for the larger limbs. For taller trees, you will need a pruner mounted on a pole with a pull rope and a saw on the end. This will allow you to prune trees up to about 15 feet. Anything tall will require a sturdy and safe ladder.

Trees do better if light can get into the interior of the plant. This will require thinning of some of the limbs in addition to just shortening them. Be careful to maintain strong "leader" limbs and maintain the integrity of the plant. This is especially true of apples and similar trees of the pyramid shape.

Some people use a tar-like pruning cement to seal larger cuts, but this is not usually necessary if you prune when the tree is dormant.

When removing entire limbs for thinning, avoid cutting the "collar" where the limb originates from the trunk. Make the cut just past the collar and the cut will heal much quicker.

Don't leave woody debris under the trees. This may attract borers or other harmful insects.
With proper fertilization, pruning and water, you should have healthy and happy plants.

When planting new trees and shrubs, make selections that are compatible with your climate and soil type. Your local agricultural extension service or a local nursery can help you in these choices.

Happy gardening!

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