Transcript Pruning Presentation

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?
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?
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.
STEM/BRANCH
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
Salt Lake City, UT
Ashley, ND
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 bark ridge
C-E
Branch collar
A-B-D
Prune outside of
branch collar
A-B
No flush cuts
C-D
Prune outside of
branch collar
A-B
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
Latex paint, I think …
2003
2006
Incorrect
Correct
Show the order of
cutting of the branch
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
Incorrect
Correct
Show the order of
cutting of the branch
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 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
What’s wrong with this picture?
Questions?