Eco-gardening is at its best in The Monday Garden
March 28, 2004, Issue 105
It’s spring, get out and prune! The best start, of course, is to buy right-sized plants that self-prune. This leaves more time for other activities. However, most woody plants do need some pruning and many should be pruned before they start putting out new growth in the spring. There are several ways to prune, mostly depending on the gardening philosophy and gender of the pruner.
picture: Pruning time, Hoyt Street, Stamford CT.
Start with the tools. Ideally, this includes a couple of pairs of cross-cutting hand pruners. More than one pair means you don’t have to re-sharpen as often, and frequently switching to a slightly different hand grip helps prevent fatigue and blisters. Cross-cutters are much easier on the plant (and you) than the alternative type, anvil cutters. If you buy the “in” brand, the red-handled Felcos, you’ll at least look like you know what you’re doing.
You also need long-handled loppers for the branches over ˝”, and a small hand saw (also Felco’s, of course). A hat, work gloves, and safety glasses are good, too. Unless you have extensive formal hedges, are planning mayhem or are of the male gender, you don’t need anything with a motor, particularly a loud one. .
The tools need to be sharp. So go in the kitchen and carefully sharpen everything. While you’re at it, do all the knives, scissors, etc.
Picture (on web): my male cat checks out the pruning tools
Second, select the patient. It’s best to hose down the intended victim so that you’re not breathing in extra dust and pollen. While the patient’s drying, go find out what you doing. Since this is the horticultural version of reading the map or manual, some may skip this step. However, it really is much less embarrassing to know BEFORE you prune that this particular shrub should never be pruned or that you need to wait until after it flowers. There are plenty of good sources on the web and lots of good books. While you’re at it, find out what a “branch collar” is – if you don’t know, you’re a danger in the yard.
By this time, you should be getting tired. This is good because most plants don’t need that much pruning anyway. While few plants die from under-pruning, over-pruning is a sure killer. Besides, if you cut a lot off, you have to get rid of the brush, usually by chopping it up and that’s a pain.
The branches that you should prune begin with “D” for “discipline”:
• Dead, diseased, and damaged branches -- this pruning you can do year round.
• “Deranged” branches – those going the wrong way or in the wrong place or which are too weak. Look at the plant, it will tell you how it wants to grow.
The “D” branches should be cut off just above the branch collar so, the tree can properly seal off the wound with new bark. When you cut the whole branch off like this, it’s called “thinning
”.
Pictures: Norway Maples in Stamford Parks model branch collars, proper cutting and healing.
It may also be good to thin out just a bit around the plant’s base and in the center. BUT do not over-do it. Never cut back by more than a third and a tenth is better. If you heavily prune every year, you’ll wear the plant out.
“Tipping” is cutting off only part of a branch. This should be done sparingly and with care. Many sources recommend lots of tipping, indeed wholesale shearing, to make the bush thicker. However, it leads to an unnaturally geometric blob-bushes, which is OK for hedge, I guess, but generally boring. Also, an overly thick bush can have increased pest problems; the “thatch” prevents rain, air and insect predators from reaching the plant’s interior. The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens’ handbook Pruning Techniques is very good on “natural” pruning.
What you shouldn’t prune, without serious thought, is any branch higher than your shoulder (dangerous to the pruner) or any major branch (dangerous to the plant). It’s so much better to do the right thing with young branches, long before they get big, so their removal is not a serious shock to the plant or your compost heap.
picture (on web): the red maple’s in bloom. Hoyt Street Stamford, CT
©Susan W. Sweeney 2004.