Pruning Trees & Shrubs

Pruning is an essential practice for maintaining the health, shape, and productivity of trees and shrubs. Proper pruning can enhance the appearance of your plants, encourage growth, and prevent diseases.

DISCLAIMER: Large tree pruning can be very dangerous work. Even the most highly skilled arborists have been seriously injured while pruning a large tree. This is especially true if climbing is involved. It is best to leave major large tree pruning to professional arborists. When selecting an arborist give strong consideration to whether or not the arborist is certified by a professional organization. Tree trimming safety information

Why Prune?

1. Health: Remove dead, diseased, or damaged branches to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.
2. Shape: Maintain or enhance the natural form of the plant.
3. Growth: Encourage new growth and improve air circulation within the canopy.
4. Safety: Remove branches that could pose a hazard, such as those near power lines or overhanging structures.
5. Productivity: In fruit trees and flowering shrubs, pruning can enhance fruit production and bloom.

When to Prune

• Deciduous Trees and Shrubs: Typically, prune in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. This is when the plant is still dormant, and it's easier to see the structure of the tree or shrub.
• Evergreen Shrubs: These can be pruned in late spring or early summer after the new growth has matured.
• Flowering Shrubs:
  • Spring-flowering shrubs (e.g., lilacs, forsythia): Prune immediately after flowering. They bloom on old wood, so pruning too late will remove next year's flowers.
  • Summer-flowering shrubs (e.g., hydrangeas, butterfly bush): Prune in late winter or early spring. They bloom on new wood, so pruning encourages fresh growth that will flower in the same season.

How to Prune

Pruning Trees

• Remove Dead, Diseased, or Damaged Wood: Start by cutting out any branches that are dead, diseased, or damaged.
• Thin the Canopy: Remove branches that cross or rub against each other. This reduces competition for light and nutrients and improves air circulation.
• Shape the Tree: Trim back branches to maintain the desired shape. Cut just above a bud that is facing in the direction you want the new growth to go.
• Reduce Height or Width: If necessary, cut back the height or width by removing larger branches. Make sure to make clean cuts just above the branch collar (the swollen area where the branch meets the trunk).

Pruning Shrubs

• Rejuvenation Pruning: For overgrown shrubs, cut back one-third of the oldest stems to ground level each year for three years. This encourages new growth and a more compact shape.
• Maintenance Pruning: Regularly remove dead or damaged branches, and lightly trim the tips of new growth to maintain shape.
• Heading Cuts: Shorten the length of branches by cutting back to a lateral bud or branch. This encourages bushier growth.
• Thinning Cuts: Remove entire branches back to the main stem or ground level to thin out dense growth.

Pruning Tips

• Use Sharp Tools: Sharp pruners, loppers, and saws make clean cuts and reduce damage to the plant.
• Angle Your Cuts: Make cuts at a slight angle, about ¼ inch above a bud. This prevents water from collecting on the cut surface, reducing the risk of rot.
• Disinfect Tools: Clean your tools between cuts, especially if you are pruning diseased wood, to prevent spreading pathogens.
• Don’t Over-prune: Remove no more than 25% of a tree’s or shrub’s foliage at a time. Over-pruning can stress the plant and reduce its vitality.