Pruning

Tree: Oaks

Term: Pruning

Landscape Oak Trees

Zone Height Features

Pin Oak 4 – 8 70’ Pyramid shape

Good fall color

White Oak 3 - 9 80’+ Largest oak – need drier location

Northern Red Oak

4 - 8 75’ Faster growing

Good fall color

Sawtooth Oak

5 - 9 40 – 50’ Wider than tall

Grows fast

Oak Trees

• Genus: Quercus

• Do not grow as large in landscapes as in forests

• Very messy – problem growing over decks & patios

• Acorns attract wildlife

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

Thinning cuts

• Cut whole branches to the stem or trunk

• Get more vigorous growth on the remaining branches

Spacing

What to remove?

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

Draw where to prunePut in your notebook