Pruning is an important part of gardening, but it can be confusing for beginners. What do you need to know to prune your trees properly? In this blog post, we will discuss the basics of pruning and provide tips for beginners. So, whether you’re just starting out or you’re looking for some advice on how to improve your technique, read on!
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Remove Dead Or Damaged Branches
One of the most important things you can do when pruning is to remove dead or damaged branches. This will help encourage new growth and keep your tree healthy. To identify which branches need to be removed, look for ones that are:
- discolored
- dry and brittle
- cracked or broken
If you’re not sure whether a branch is dead or not, you can gently scratch the bark with your fingernail. If the bark is green and moist underneath, then the branch is still alive. If it’s brown and dry, then it’s probably dead.
Once you’ve identified the branches that need to be removed, use pruning shears to cut them off at the point where they meet the main stem of the tree. Be sure to make clean, sharp cuts so that the tree can heal quickly.
If you have a lot of dead or damaged branches to remove, you may want to consider doing a major pruning. This is a more drastic form of pruning that involves removing large sections of the tree. Major pruning should only be done if necessary, as it can stress the tree and delay new growth.
Prune To Control The Size and Shape
Pruning can also be used to control the size and shape of your tree. If you want to keep your tree small, you can prune it regularly to prevent it from growing too large. Conversely, if you want your tree to grow larger, you can selectively remove branches to encourage new growth.
When pruning to control the size and shape of your tree, it’s important to make sure that you’re not removing more than 25% of the live branches. This can stress the tree and cause new growth to be weak and sparse.
It’s also important to prune branches evenly around the tree so that it maintains a symmetrical shape. This will help the tree look its best and stay healthy.
Remove Suckers And Water Sprouts
In addition to the main trunk and branches, you’ll also want to remove any suckers or water sprouts. Suckers are small, thin branches that grow from the base of the tree. Water sprouts are similar to suckers, but they grow from the main branches of the tree.
Both of these growths can take away from the tree’s aesthetic and make it difficult to control the size and shape. To remove them, simply cut them off at the point where they meet the trunk or branch. If they’re small enough, you can use your fingers to snap them off.
Prune To Improve Flowering Or Fruiting
Pruning can also be used to improve the quality of your tree’s flowers or fruit. For example, if you’re growing a fruit tree, you can prune it to encourage larger and healthier fruit.
To do this, you’ll need to remove any branches that are competing for resources with the fruiting branches. These are typically branches that are growing in the same direction as the fruiting branches. By removing them, you’ll allow the fruiting branches to get more sunlight and nutrients, which will result in larger and healthier fruit.
If you’re growing a flowering tree, you can prune it to encourage more flowers. To do this, you’ll need to remove any branches that are shading the flowering branches. This will allow more sunlight to reach the flowers, which will encourage them to bloom.
Final Words
Pruning can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. By following these tips, you’ll be able to prune your trees properly and keep them healthy and looking their best. After few practise runs, you’ll be a pruning pro in no time.
Happy pruning!