| If you are a gardener, then you probably know | | | | cuts. Never leave stubs and if possible, never tear |
| that the process of pruning your plants will help to | | | | off a piece of bark. It is better not to prune at all |
| keep them healthy and looking good. If you prune | | | | than to prune incorrectly. |
| your plants, they will grow much faster and in | | | | There is a certain order to how you should prune. |
| better condition. Pruning involves cutting off dead | | | | First eliminate any dead, broken or damaged limbs. |
| leaves and/or branches, as well as other | | | | These should be cut at their origin or back to a |
| unwanted forms on the plant. Let's take a deeper | | | | strong side branch or shoot. The next step is |
| look into plant pruning. | | | | training cuts. By cutting back side branches, you |
| Most trees will need to be pruned during certain | | | | can maintain a certain shape. Finally remove weak |
| times of the year. It is usually when they are in a | | | | or narrow crotches. |
| dormant season, which is late fall and winter. | | | | There are three different types of pruning for |
| Shrubs with spring blooming times should only be | | | | trees. Crown thinning is the removal of certain |
| pruned after the flower fades, while summer | | | | branches to increase light diffusion and air |
| blooming shrubs should be pruned in early spring. | | | | movement around the crown of the tree. Crown |
| Pruning puts stress on trees and lends them | | | | raising is the removal of branches from the |
| vulnerable to disease, as well as, insects. Pruning | | | | bottom of the crown of the tree for clearance. |
| basically wounds the plant, but the plant's wounds | | | | Crown reduction is the removal of branches to |
| seal. You should be cautious as to how much you | | | | reduce the height of a tree. |
| do prune. While it is important to prune unwanted | | | | There are also three different types of pruning |
| branches, you must protect the stem or the | | | | for shrubs and flowers. Thinning out allows for |
| trunk of the tree when doing so. | | | | growth from sides of branches by removing a |
| There are several tools available to accomplish | | | | branch at its source from its parent or the |
| your pruning chores. Hand pruning shears work | | | | ground. Renewal pruning removes a couple of the |
| well when cutting stems. Lopping shears are able | | | | oldest, tallest branches at or slightly above ground |
| to cut branches up to 1 3/4 inches wide and they | | | | level. And rejuvenation pruning is performed on |
| have long handles for a longer reach. Pruning saws | | | | old, overgrown shrubs by removing 1/3 of its |
| can remove stems, which cannot be cut with | | | | oldest branches at or slightly above ground level. |
| hand pruners, or lopping shears. Pole pruning | | | | Pruning is a vital yet difficult task to perform. It |
| shears are for the hard to reach branches. And | | | | takes knowledge on how to make the cuts and |
| chain saws are for branches exceeding 3 inches in | | | | where to make them. It takes time to examine |
| diameter. | | | | which limbs or branches need to be removed. If |
| It is important to know what you are doing when | | | | you don't know what you're doing, you will ruin |
| pruning. Improper pruning can turn a healthy tree | | | | your tree or shrub. But, when you do know what |
| into a weakened and deformed one. You should | | | | you're doing, you will enhance its appearance and |
| use sharp tools that can make clean, smooth | | | | health. |