In my last post, I shared some of my observations from the Gardens and we defined “tree” and “shrub”. Now I want to share what I’m learning about the basics of pruning woody plants.
One of the most important parts of pruning is knowing why you are pruning. What is the purpose? It is easy to make the mistake of doing extra, unnecessary, work or harm to the plant if you do not have a specific goal in mind.
A few of the common reasons for pruning are for flowers, for formative structure, or just a routine cleanup of the plant. For flowering plants, the common practice is pruning immediately after flowering. It is a good general rule, but make sure to do extra research on each species of plant you want to prune to ensure you’re doing the right thing.
I want to first discuss how and where to cut on the branch and the different budding possibilities. Most deciduous shrubs and trees are either opposite or alternate branching. This means there will be a bud on each side of the node or a single alternating bud along the branch. Alternating branches require a cut angled away from the bud. A straight cut across a branch is best for an opposite branching plant.
Setting up the form for a tree or a shrub early in its life is important. It will have a large impact on the future of the plant’s looks. Trees need their structure guided to produce beautiful scaffolding in the future, if one wants that idyllic winter profile. With younger plants, it is good to remember: “if you are in doubt don’t cut it out”. You cannot glue the branch back on. Establishing good structure early increases the beauty and health of the plant. Shrubs need to be influenced to fill the shape that is intended for the garden or landscape it was placed in. The placement and intention of the planting determines how one should treat the individual in the composition. Most trees and shrubs are a part of a whole configuration, and understanding their role in the design will suggest the best pruning approach.
The last type of pruning I want to talk about is routine pruning. It is good for the plant to take out any epicormic sprouts (suckers), weak growth, limbs that are rubbing, or any dead/diseased stems. This is a simple type of pruning which helps keep the plant healthy and looking cleaner. Once trees become well established, light routine pruning becomes the most common pruning task.
Design purpose guides every action you take in pruning. Knowing how a specific plant grows and reacts to pruning is key to fostering a beautiful, healthy plant. A little research on the plant in question is a good starting point, if you are unsure how it should be treated. There are many rules (more like guidelines) in pruning, but it is always best to know the “why and what” on a plant by plant basis because there is an exception to every rule.
Cody Hoff, Lead Horticulturist
Missed any of our latest posts? Click below to read more:
- A beacon of Autumn: Red Maple, October’s Native of the MonthThe Red Maple, or Acer rubrum, is Wellfield’s October native plant of the month.
- September’s Native Plant of the Month: Pawpaw TreeWellfield’s native plant of the month is the Asimina triloba, or Pawpaw tree. Click the link to learn more!
- Native Plant of the Month (August) – Swamp Rose MallowAugust’s native plant of the month at Wellfield Botanic Gardens is Swamp Rose Mallow, a native hibiscus species found in various areas of our gardens.
- The Tomatillo (Physalis ixocarpa)Tomatillos are almost ready to harvest at Wellfield Botanic Gardens – today, Ariana looks at the history and traits of this fruit from the nightshade family.
- July’s Native Plant of the Month: Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)July’s native plant of the month at Wellfield is Liatris spicata, commonly called Dense Blazing Star, Blazing Star, Gayfeather, or Marsh Blazing Star. It is an herbaceous perennial native to the eastern United States and is a member of the Aster family (Asteraceae). Liatris has grass-like foliage and blooms in the summer between July and August.
- In Defense of The Monarch ButterflyWhat to do about the declining Monarch population? Plant more milkweed is the quick answer, but there’s more to it than that, and it’s not just about the butterfly.
Want to be notified whenever we post? Leave your email here – we promise, we’ll never sell your info!
Dormant pruning is a major concern here because the trees that need it do not stay dormant for very long. When orchards were common in the Santa Clara Valley, pruning started late in summer.
Much trickier on the timing than areas like the Midwest which have definitely seasonality! Thanks for sharing that perspective – – important considerations to think about.