Arboriculture: Pruning Trees and Shrubs (Deciduous and Coniferous)

Why Prune:

• To maintain vigorous trees and shrubs.
• To control width and height.
• To remove broken, dead or diseased branches.
• To increase structural strength.
• To shape plants into unnatural forms.
• To keep evergreens compact.
• To rejuvenate old flowering shrubs.

• To aid in transplanting.

When to Prune:

• Prune broken branches caused by snow settling.
• Prune flowering shrubs after they have bloomed.
• Evergreens should be pruned when the wood is unfrozen.
• Late fall pruning may cause die-back in the cuts.
• Trees "bleed" in early spring (prune when leaves develop to minimize sap loss.).
• Be sure to use sharp, clean tools.

How to Prune Shrubs

• Remove broken, dead and diseased branches.
• Remove crossing or rubbing branches.
• Shorten the weak branches.
• Remove sucker growth on a yearly basis.
• Ensure young growth is retained.
• Make cuts at a forty-five degree angle above an outward growing bud.
• Remove one-third of the old growth yearly.
• Avoid shearing them like a hedge.
• Remove water sprouts.

How to Prune Trees

• Remove sucker growth, weak branches and limbs.
• Leave the leader to develop naturally.
• Reduce height and width by cutting to the outward growing lateral bud.
• Remove all crotches that are less than forty-five degrees (additional wight of ice and snow may weaken branches).
• Do not make a cut flush with the tree, this leaves more area open to disease.
• Pruning only needs to be done for trees every five to ten years if it is done correctly the first time.

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