How Change The Way You Approach Pruning Trees & Shrubs with Michelle mopkins
Transcript of How Change The Way You Approach Pruning Trees & Shrubs with Michelle mopkins
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The appearance of a properly pruned plant is like a good hair cut: hardly noticeable at first glance.
Presented by Michelle Mopkins
LandscapePruning Trees
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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
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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.
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Pruning Tools
Sharp&
Sterile
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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.
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Making the Cut
Directional Pruning- cuts should be about ¼ in above bud or beyond branch
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Making the Cut
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Pruning Technique• Heading
– Removes a part of a shoot
ThinningRemoves the entire shoot
or limb
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Pruning Technique
Thinning Selectively
cutting oldest branches to ground opens center and promotes new growth
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Pruning TechniqueHeading
• Use for small leaf hedges
• Creates dense, tight foliage
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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.
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Root Pruning
• Don’t prune completely flush with the main trunk
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Crown Thinning
• No more than one-fourth of the living branches
should be removed at one time
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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
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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)
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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
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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
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Pruning Limbs
An Improper Cut
made through the branch collar will take 3x longer to
heal
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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
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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
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THANK YOU
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