Pruning

• Why– Remove dead, damaged, diseased branches– Promote strong branch unions– Improve line-of-sight– Control plant size and shape (branch location)

Tight crotch (<30°…)

Low strength, especially if there is included bark

Prune when small

ST

EM

/BR

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Buds – provides next year’s branches, leaves and sometimes flowers.

Pruning

• How– Heading cuts – cutting off part of a shoot or

branch ... – 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

Show the order of cutting of the branch

Incorrect Correct

Three-cut method for larger limbs

Pruning

• How– Heading cuts– Thinning cuts– Large branches ... hire a professional arborist– How much to remove? – <~25%

Pruning

• Time of year– Late winter/early spring is best– Elm, oak, honeylocust, mountain-ash, apple,

birch – NOT in summer

• 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.

Pruning

• Don’t prune (a lot) at planting ...

• Shearing – a mixture of thinning and indiscriminate heading to shape a shrub or conifer