Pruning

Tree: Crape Myrtle

Term: Pruning

Pruning

• The removal of living plant tissue to stimulate growth, remove dead tissue, or reshape a shrub or tree.

Tutorial

• Go to this website

• Go thru the tutorial

5 Harmful Cuts

• Topping

• Tipping

• Bark ripping

• Flesh Cutting

• Stub setting

Pruning

• Removes Apical Dominance

• Makes plants bushier

Types of pruning cuts• Heading:• Cut end of stem off

• Thinning:• Remove back to trunk

or large stem

Heading cuts

• Cut just above a bud

• Get new growth at the tips

• Crape Myrtles

Other techniques

• Pollarding • Topping

Espalier

• Pruning trees to make them 2 dimensional

Thinning cuts

• Cut whole branches to the stem or trunk

• Get more vigorous growth on the remaining branches

• Important on fruit trees

Spacing

What to remove?

This will be on the quiz!

Heading Cut: Where to cut

Thinning Cut: Where to cut?

How to cut large branches

Tools

• A good pair of pruning shears is probably one of the most important tools. Cuts up to 3/4 inches in diameter may be made with them

Tools

• Lopping shears are similar to pruning shears, but their long handles provide greater leverage needed to cut branches up to 11/2 inches in diameter

Hedge Shears

• Hedge shears are meant only for pruning hedges, nothing else. They usually cut succulent or small stems best. Cut multiple small stems with each stroke.

Hand Saws

• Hand saws are very important for cutting branches over 1 inch in diameter. Many types of hand saws are available. Special tri-cut or razor tooth pruning saws cut through larger branches — up to 4 inches in diameter — with ease

Pole Saws

• Pole saws allow for extended reach with a long handle, but they must be used carefully as it’s difficult to achieve clean cuts with them

When to prune

• Spring flowering shrubs & trees – right after blooming– Flower on last years growth

• Summer flowering shrubs & trees – in dormant season– Decrease opportunity for disease

• When in doubt prune when dormant

What to remove?

This will be on the quiz!

Draw where to prunePut in your notebook

• Summer Flowers

• Multiple Branches

• Full Sun

Crape Myrtle

Bradford Pear

• Full Sun

• Spring Flowers

• Pyramidal shape

Dogwood

• Sun or Shade

• Spring Flowers

• Pink or white

Redbud Tree

• Spring Flowering

• Sun or shade

Azalea

• Spring Flowering

• Shrub

• Part shade

Hydrangea

• Spring Flowering

• Shrub

• Part shade

Knock-out Rose

• Summer flowers

• Shrub

• Full Sun

Forsythia

• Spring Flowering

• Shrub

• Full sun

Winged Euonymus

• Fall Foliage

• Shrub

• Full sun

Periwinkle

• Spring-summer flowers

• Ground cover

• Shade – part shade

Ajuga

• Spring Flowers

• Ground Cover

• Part – full shade

Winter Creeper

• No flowers

• Ground cover

• Full sun to full shade

Pachysandra

• Ground cover

• Full shade

Hosta

• Summer flowers

• Part shade

Coral Bells - Heuchera

Sedum

Fountain Grass

Geranium

• Summer flowers

• Sun

Marigold

• Summer flowers

• Sun

Impatiens

• Summer flowers

• Shade

Begonia

• Summer flowers

Pansy

• Spring or Fall

• Sun or part shade