| Pruning. So easy to get wrong, but not that | | | | mentioned above, dead, dying or dangerous wood |
| difficult to get right once you know a few simple | | | | should be removed as soon as it is observed. You |
| techniques. Unfortunately, pruning is a fact of | | | | can then move on to considering the health of |
| gardening life if you want vigorous, attractive | | | | the tree. This includes removing any diseased or |
| trees, but if you're like my husband then your | | | | infected wood, any crossing or rubbing branches, |
| approach up until now may have been to hack | | | | and areas of congestion which block airflow |
| off a few branches that vaguely look like they're | | | | through the crown, encouraging pests and disease. |
| in the wrong place, and then hope like blazes it all | | | | These areas can be thinned. |
| turns out alright next spring. | | | | Finally, consider aesthetics. What form or shape |
| This obviously isn't the best approach, so I | | | | do you want the tree to develop over time; what |
| thought I'd address the basics of pruning in this | | | | is the natural form and character of the tree? To |
| article (which I'll leave lying around for my husband | | | | remain healthy and vigorous a tree needs good, |
| to come across, I think...) | | | | balanced structure, and again, this is easiest to |
| There are 4 main considerations when pruning: | | | | see while the tree is dormant. |
| What, when, why and how are you pruning? | | | | Point 3: Prune for safety, health and aesthetics, in |
| What are you pruning? | | | | that order. |
| Assuming you have a mature tree, the first | | | | How are you pruning? |
| consideration is whether you have a fruit or an | | | | Armed with the answers to the above 3 |
| ornamental tree. Fruit trees tend to be more | | | | questions, you can now get onto the actual |
| complicated, as you will need to consider whether | | | | pruning. Obviously this can get fairly technical, but |
| the tree is tip or spur bearing - in other words, | | | | we'll stick with the home-gardener basics here. |
| does it fruit on old or new wood? Most fruit trees | | | | Firstly, arm yourself with clean, sharp secateurs |
| are spur bearing, that is, they fruit on old wood. | | | | and pruning shears. |
| The main exceptions being peaches and | | | | Cuts should be made angling down and away |
| nectarines which fruit on new season's growth, | | | | from the tree. When removing dead material |
| however a quick google of your tree varietal will | | | | ensure you cut on the dead wood, rather than |
| tell you what you need to know. | | | | the living branch collar to avoid damaging the tree |
| Point 1: ornamental or fruit, and tip or spur | | | | further. If the branch is fairly large you may also |
| bearing? | | | | want to use a 3-step process by removing some |
| When are you pruning? | | | | of the weight of the branch before your final cut, |
| The best time to prune your tree is during the | | | | reducing the chance of tearing. |
| dormant season when the tree is least likely to | | | | When thinning your crown the key is to |
| go into shock and the lack of foliage means you | | | | determine which branches you want to remove, |
| can easily observe the structure of the tree. The | | | | before you start (it's easy to get carried away, |
| exceptions are trees which flower early in spring. | | | | and end up removing far more than you |
| These require pruning immediately after flowering | | | | intended!) I tie red cotton to the branches I plan |
| to allow new wood to develop for the following | | | | to remove, and remove only those branches. |
| year's flowers, with common examples including | | | | Then take a good step back, look at your tree |
| dogwood, magnolias and lilacs. One extra point - | | | | and see if there are any other areas needing |
| dead and dangerous wood can be removed at | | | | attention. Always start by taking less - you can |
| any time. | | | | always go back and cut more if you need to. |
| Point 2: Prune in winter unless you have an early | | | | Finally, take a step back and look at the shape of |
| flowering ornamental... | | | | your tree. Is it balanced? Does it display good |
| Why are you pruning? | | | | structure? Is there clear airflow? If yes, then you |
| There are 3 main reasons to prune a mature tree | | | | can breathe a sign of relief on a job well done. |
| - safety, health and aesthetics, in that order. As | | | | |