Pruning Your Trees and Shrubs

Pruning is the careful trimming of trees, shrubs and some perennials to promote health, maximize flowering or fruit production, and create more visual interest in a landscape. Many plants respond well to pruning, but some varieties of woody plant species should only be pruned at certain times during the year to minimize damage and encourage new growth.

To begin, the skilled pruner removes dead, broken, diseased or problematic limbs by cutting them at their point of origin or back to a strong lateral branch or shoot. Then the pruner thins the crown of a mature tree to open it up for good light penetration and air circulation.

Often, older trees need more extensive thinning to reduce the weight of the branches and stems. This is done by removing specific live branches to reduce the overall density of the canopy, and can be used for a variety of reasons such as reducing the risk of storm damage and wind resistance, or to reduce the burden of heavy fruits on a single trunk.

Some plants, such as azalea, rhododendron, lilac and flowering quince, should be pruned right after they bloom in early spring to prevent them from becoming too tall, which can interfere with their ability to produce flowers or fruit. Others, such as roses, chokeberry, and forsythia, should be pruned in late winter or spring before they start their new growth.

When pruned at the wrong time, ornamental and fruit trees can suffer serious damage or even die. This is why it’s best to leave large, established shade trees to qualified arborists and tree care professionals.

Prune to remove dead, diseased or problem limbs as soon as you notice them. In addition, remove crossing or rubbing limbs, water sprouts (vigorous upright growing shoots from the trunk or side branches) and suckers (vigorous upright growing shoots that develop near or from below ground). These cuts will reduce the number of future buds for the entire tree, as well as reduce the likelihood of disease.

Most of the rest of a tree’s growth should be left to its own devices if it has been properly planted and sited, unless you are trying to train a specific form, such as an espalier or topiary. For more information on the proper pruning of these types of plants, consult a local nursery or garden center for recommendations.

When pruning, avoid the temptation to use a pruning “dressing.” Pruning dressings, which contain solvents such as turpentine, mineral spirits, creosote or pentachlorophenol, seal in moisture, inhibit natural wound-healing by killing off the underlying tissue and inhibit future growth by killing the bud or branch stub. This can lead to unsightly scarring or deformed limbs. Instead, clean and oil your tools regularly to keep them sharp. This can be as simple as wiping them with a rag moistened with alcohol or bleach, and occasionally using a sandpaper treatment to sharpen the blade.

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