1Michelle Mopkins

The appearance of a properly pruned plant is like a good hair cut: hardly noticeable at first glance.

Presented by Michelle Mopkins

LandscapePruning Trees

2Michelle Mopkins

Pruning

• Pruning at Planting: – If quality plant stock,

pruning is not necessary

• Do not prune to compensate for root loss– latest research show pruning

does not help overcome transplant shock

3Michelle Mopkins

Why Prune• Removal of dead, broken, diseased,

or insect-infested branches

• Maintain desired shape & size (make it look natural)

• Promote healthy vigorous growth

• Promote flowering & fruiting• Allow air and light to enter the

interior of the plant.

4Michelle Mopkins

Pruning Tools

Sharp&

Sterile

5Michelle Mopkins

Pruning Tools• Hand Shears: branches up to ½” in diameter• Lopping Shears: branches ½ to 1 ½” in diameter• Pruning Saw: branches larger than 1 ½” in diamter• Chain Saw: branches larger than 3”• Pole Pruner: long-handled pruner to reach into canopy

w/o a ladder. (power pole pruner)• Hedge Shears: hedges and other shrubs up to ½” in

diameter• Grass shears: 2 blades designed to cut grass around

edges of walks or flower beds.

6Michelle Mopkins

Making the Cut

Directional Pruning- cuts should be about ¼ in above bud or beyond branch

collar7Michelle Mopkins

Making the Cut

8Michelle Mopkins

Pruning Technique• Heading

– Removes a part of a shoot

ThinningRemoves the entire shoot

or limb

9Michelle Mopkins

Pruning Technique

Thinning Selectively

cutting oldest branches to ground opens center and promotes new growth

10Michelle Mopkins

Pruning TechniqueHeading

• Use for small leaf hedges

• Creates dense, tight foliage

11Michelle Mopkins

Rejuvenating/Renewal• Restore overgrown

shrubs

• Cut all branches 4-8” above ground

• If there are any diseased or dead plants you should remove them first.

12Michelle Mopkins

Root Pruning

• Don’t prune completely flush with the main trunk

13Michelle Mopkins

Crown Thinning

• No more than one-fourth of the living branches

should be removed at one time

14Michelle Mopkins

Crown Raising• Remove branch from

bottom to provide clearance

• After pruning the ratio of living crown to total tree height should be at

least two-thirds

15Michelle Mopkins

Crown ReductionRatio of live crown to total

tree height should be at least two-thirds

Never cut main branches of tree back to

stubs (Topping Trees)

16Michelle Mopkins

Pruning Young Tree

• A. Remove suckers

• B. Low Growing Branches infer w/maintenance practices

• C. Upright growing shoots or waterspouts

• D. Inward growing branches

• E. Branches that compete with a central leader

17Michelle Mopkins

Large Limbs• A. Make partial cut from

underneath

• B. Make a second cut from above several inches out– allows the limb to fall

• C. Complete job with final cut just outside the branch collar

18Michelle Mopkins

Pruning Limbs

An Improper Cut

made through the branch collar will take 3x longer to

heal

19Michelle Mopkins

Pruning TimeGeneral Rule

• Trees & Plants that flower before May – Prune after bloom

• Dogwood, Redbud, Saucer Magnolia, Flowering Cherry

• Azalea, Forsythia, Rhododendron, Clematis, Climbing roses

• Trees & Plants that flower after May– Prune prior to spring growth

• Chaste Tree, Crape Myrtle, Sourwood• Camellia, Nandina, Sweetshrub, Abelia, Floribunda

roses 20Michelle Mopkins

21Michelle Mopkins

Pruning Paint

• Correct Tools• Correct Time

• Correct Technique

“Placebo” - making the user feel goodResearch shows that paint or wound dressings do not

stop decay nor cause the wound to close faster

Successful Pruning

22Michelle Mopkins

23Michelle Mopkins

THANK YOU

24Michelle Mopkins