Tree & Shrub Pruning

Naperville Community GardensMarch 5, 2012

Stan HolatAutumn Tree

sholat@autumn-savatree.com

Pruning?

Pruning Locations

3-Cut Branch Removal

Why do we prune?

• Aesthetics• Risk Reduction• Plant Health• Plant Growth Rate• Tree structure-Subordinate Pruning

Tree Structure

Full length before

Close up before

Close up before 2

2nd Cut

Close up after

Close up after

Close up reverse side

Full length after

Procedure

1. Choose straightest leader to remain.2. Look for location to cut down to (1/2 of the

length)3. Try to keep the current shape.4. Remove smaller competing branches.

Deciduous Shrub Pruning

Shrub Pruning Guidelines

• Know your shrubs

• Desired form• Arrangement

Know your shrubs

• Species• Cultivar/variety• Characteristics• History• Site

Shrub Form

• Formal • Natural

Arrangement

• Hedge

• Foundation

• Grouped

Methods of shrub pruning

• Shearing/Shaping• Heading• Renewal• Rejuvenation

Shearing/Shaping

• Formal• Higher

Maintenance• Caution of “dead

zone”• Foliage Shell• Insect problems?

Hedge Tapering

• Bottoms must be wider than top to allow sunlight to lower branches to keep them green

Heading

• Maintain existing form

• Thinning and cutting back to laterals

Heading

• Heading to maintain size• Heading cut

Renewal Pruning

• Stimulates new growth throughout shrub

• Remove older stems

• Prune out 1/3rd each winter

Rejuvenation

• Cut ALL stems low