Practical Pruning Tips

Pruning is Essential.

Here are five common-sense tips to keep your young saplings and trees looking in tip-top shape.

• Cut off a diseased, dead, or broken branch from any tree or plant at any time.
• Prune the weaker of two rubbing or interfering branches that are developing bark wounds – the quicker the better.
• In pruning, don’t leave stubs or ragged cuts. Always use sharp, clean-cutting pruning tools.
• All bark wounds over 1-1/2 inches in diameter should have a protective coating of dark paint.
• Keep pruning shears sharp and well-oiled, and use the right tool for the job.

Cardinal Rule of Pruning

Cut cleanly and leave no stubs is the rule. A dead stub will rot, die, and is vulnerable to infection. An infection can spread to the rest of the tree. Either cut close to the main branch or immediately above a bud.