| Winter is an ideal time to do some pruning, | | | | under the hood. You will see a number of small |
| especially when the temperatures are around 30 | | | | branches which have not had any sunlight, and |
| degrees. Pruning is not recommended when the | | | | should best be removed. Also, wherever you see |
| temperature is well below freezing, since the | | | | two branches that are crossing paths, remove |
| wood gets brittle at that time and will shatter | | | | one of them. |
| when cut. | | | | Once the inside of the plant has been cleaned up, |
| The advantage of winter pruning is that you can | | | | start shaping the outside. This is very easy -- just |
| have a clear idea of what needs to be cut out | | | | picture how you want your plant to look, draw |
| and what can stay, at least when it comes to | | | | imaginary lines in your mind and cut off anything |
| deciduous plants. Also, the dormant plants will be | | | | that is not a part of those these imaginary lines. |
| easier to cut during winter. | | | | Mostly, your plant will have two kinds of growth |
| Ornamental trees like Weeping Cherries, Flowering | | | | -- terminal branches and lateral branches. Every |
| Dogwoods and Flowering Crabapples usually tend | | | | branch will have one terminal bud at the end, with |
| to send branches in different directions, so it is a | | | | a number of lateral branches along the sides. |
| good idea to prune the competing branches. | | | | When you cut the terminal bud, the plant sets |
| First decide how you want your plant to look, and | | | | multiple buds, thus making it look nice and full. |
| start pruning. Stick your head inside the tree and | | | | Trimming your plants will actually make them look |
| see what can be eliminated. This is just like looking | | | | nicer. |