the joy of pruning why and how. the joy of pruning why
TRANSCRIPT
The Joy of Pruning
Why and how
The Joy of Pruning
• Why
The Joy of Pruning
• Why– Remove dead, damaged, diseased branches
The Joy of Pruning
• Why– Remove dead, damaged, diseased branches– Promote strong branch unions
The Joy of Pruning
• Why– Remove dead, damaged, diseased branches– Promote strong branch unions
• Prune where there is included bark
Tight crotch (<30°…)
Low strength, especially if there is included bark
Prune when small
Photo courtesy of Joseph O’Brien, USDA Forest Service, www.forestryimages.org
Photo courtesy of Joseph O’Brien, USDA Forest Service, www.forestryimages.org
Double leaders
Low strength, common in green ash, spruce
Prune when small
The 30° guideline is just that – a guideline …
The Joy of Pruning
• Why– Remove dead, damaged, diseased branches– Promote strong branch unions– Improve line-of-sight
The Joy of Pruning
• Why– Remove dead, damaged, diseased branches– Promote strong branch unions– Improve line-of-sight– Control plant size and shape (branch location)
The Joy of Pruning
• Why– Remove dead, damaged, diseased branches– Promote strong branch unions– Improve line-of-sight– Control plant size and shape (branch location)– Control flowering and fruiting (not covered)
The Joy of Pruning
• Why– Remove dead, damaged, diseased branches– Promote strong branch unions– Improve line-of-sight– Control plant size and shape (branch location)– Control flowering and fruiting (not covered)
• Why not?Why not?
The Joy of Pruning
• Why– Remove dead, damaged, diseased branches– Promote strong branch unions– Improve line-of-sight– Control plant size and shape (branch location)– Control flowering and fruiting (not covered)
• Why not?Why not?
Remember, every time you remove live branches, you’re removing leaves, which are the tree’s “food factory”. Be cautious.
The Joy of Pruning
• Why
• How
The Joy of Pruning
• Why
• How– Heading cuts – cutting off part of a shoot or
branch ...
Okay if (1) you’re only cutting back the most recent year’s growth, and (2) there is a bud just below the cut, that can take over as leader.
Note the three long shoots that were stimulated, and are now competing to be the leader for this branch.
ST
EM
/BR
AN
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Buds – provides next year’s branches, leaves and sometimes flowers.
Angle the cut just above a bud.
This bud should take over as new leader.
These buds may also compete to be new leader; no longer under apical control of original leader.
Topping – heading cuts well beyond the most recent year’s growth.
DON’T DO IT!
Topping – heading cuts well beyond the most recent year’s growth.
DON’T DO IT!
The salesman …
Bismarck, ND
Thessaloniki, Greece
Topping – a universal problem
Ashley, ND
Salt Lake City, UT
Pollarding – heading cuts followed by annual removal of new shoots
These shoots removed every year with pollarding
The Joy of Pruning
• Why
• How– Heading cuts– Thinning cuts – cutting back whole branches,
to the point where they connect with other branches or the stem
Branch collar A-B-DBranch bark ridge
C-E
Prune outside of branch collar
A-B
Prune outside of branch collar
A-B
No flush cuts C-D
No stubs! (Cut them off)
What if there is no “branch collar”?
What if there is no “branch collar”?
Make as small a wound as possible; cut at a right angle to the length of the branch.
Should I paint the wound to seal it off? Maybe use a wound dressing, or pruning paint?
Should I paint the wound to seal it off? Maybe use a wound dressing, or pruning paint?
NO! There is little scientific evidence to support their use. Some of them will actually harm the tree.
Latex paint, I think …
2003
2003
Latex paint, I think …
2006
Show the order of cutting of the branch
Incorrect Correct
Three-cut method for larger limbs
The Joy of Pruning
• Why
• How– Heading cuts– Thinning cuts– Very, very large branches ...
The Danger of Pruning
• Why
• How– Heading cuts– Thinning cuts– Very, very large branches ... hire a
professional arborist
Show the order of cutting of the branch
Incorrect Correct
Three-cut method for larger limbs
The Joy of Pruning
• Why
• How– Heading cuts– Thinning cuts– Large branches ... hire a professional arborist– How much to remove?
The Joy of Pruning
• Why
• How– Heading cuts– Thinning cuts– Large branches ... hire a professional arborist– How much to remove? – <~25%
The Joy of Pruning
• Why
• How– Heading cuts– Thinning cuts– Large branches ... hire a professional arborist– How much to remove? – <~25%
Remember, every time you remove live branches, you’re removing leaves, which are the tree’s “food factory”. Be cautious.
The Joy of Pruning
• Why
• How
• Tools ...
The Joy of Pruning
• Why
• How
• Tools
• Extra tips and notes
The Joy of Pruning
• Why
• How
• Tools
• Extra tips and notes– Late winter/early spring is best– Summer also acceptable EXCEPT FOREXCEPT FOR -
elm, oak, honeylocust, mountain-ash, apple, birch
The Danger of Pruning
• Why
• How
• Tools
• Extra tips and notes– Late winter/early spring is best– Power lines – BE CAREFUL!
The Danger of Pruning
• Why
• How
• Tools
• Extra tips and notes– Late winter/early spring is best– Power lines – BE CAREFUL!
Indirect contact between you and the power line can occur through a branch or a tool. Consider hiring a professional arborist.
The Joy of Pruning
• Why
• How
• Tools
• Extra tips and notes– Late winter/early spring is best– Power lines – BE CAREFUL!– Don’t prune (a lot) at planting ...
The Joy of Pruning
• Why
• How
• Tools
• Extra tips and notes– Late winter/early spring is best– Power lines – BE CAREFUL!– Don’t prune (a lot) at planting ... – Shearing – a mixture of thinning and
indiscriminate heading to shape a shrub or conifer
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Questions?