Some
people consider the act of pruning, a form of art; and like any masterpiece, the
end result is rewarding. Similar to art, there are several different techniques
to pruning if you are looking to achieve a certain effect like privacy,
windbreaks or even just for a fuller look. Let’s be honest though … it can be
quite time consuming and it takes A LOT of patience. While there are no
short-cuts to pruning, when done properly (and with the right tools), you will
reap all the benefits in due time. There’s
nothing wrong with a temporary fix, but wouldn't you rather prevent future
problems all together?
So let’s get down
to the basics!
Plants
can usually be pruned after new growth emerges in the spring in order to
maintain and control growth. Simply put … the more you prune, the more you will
notice any abnormalities and therefore treat them before it is too late. If you
want your foliage to look full and healthy, you’ll need to prune anything that
is diseased and/or damaged.
Knowing when to
prune is often very important, but then again it also depends on the type of
plants you own and what is best for them at that time. Think of pruning as one
of the answers to most of your plants’ distress if you notice anything
irregular. For instance, not pruning before a storm hits can cause more damage
than you can believe … not only to your trees or plants, but on your wallet as
well. So, bear in mind that pruning properly and regularly often prevents storms
from damaging or tearing up your trees or plants tremendously. Really, the best
advice we can give is to prune at such a time that will not shock your
plant.
Look for:
- Awkward limbs
- Vertical buds from branches (known as water sprouts)
- Dangling branches, crossing or rubbing branches
- Insect-infested wood
- Excess growth
