Pruning is one of the least understood practices of
landscape maintenance. Before trying to prune your
landscape shrubs and trees, consider the basic principles
of pruning. Review the following considerations
before starting to prune your landscape plants.
Reasons for Pruning
1. To keep or limit the size and shape of a plant so it
won't overpower the landscape.
2. To remove undesirable growth that distracts from
the balance or symmetry of the plant.
3. To remove diseased, insect-infested, dead, or abnormal
plant tissue.
4. To stimulate flowering and/or fruit production of
old plants.
5. To develop a specific plant form, such as a hedge or
an espalier, as in formal landscape designs.
6. To direct or train trees to grow in a particular form
to eliminate problems.
7. To remove plant parts that may interfere with structures
or utility lines or that may create a visibility
problem.
METHODS
Tip pruning encourages a thick, well-shaped plant.
Light tip pruning removes only a few inches of stem
tips. You usually use this method of pruning in early
spring after new growth has occurred.
Thinning is used on broadleaf, deciduous landscape
plants to encourage flowering and strong
growth. Thin in early spring before new growth begins
by removing older or weaker branches back to a lateral
branch or completely to the ground.
Shearing controls the shape and size of all types
of shrubs. Shearing calls for clipping the newest
foliage, usually 1 to 2 inches of new growth. Actually,
shearing is a type of tip pruning that removes minimal
foliage. Broadleaf evergreen hedges and screens are
often sheared to promote thick, dense foliage. Always
use sharp shears when shearing landscape plants.
Rejuvenation is severe pruning used only on
broadleaf evergreens and deciduous plants to control
overgrown, leggy, and straggly plants. Use this
method of pruning in early spring before the beginning
of new growth. A special form of rejuvenation
pruning is used for clump-forming shrubs, such as
nandina and mahonia. One-third of the oldest limbs
are removed each year.
Espalier trains a plant to grow against a wall. A
tall wall is best for espaliered plants. Pruning may be
necessary several times throughout the growing season
to get the desired shape and form. For more information,
request a copy of Extension Information Sheet
456, "Espalier Shrubs and Trees."
Topiary is the art of shaping plants into fantastic
or ornamental forms by careful pruning or trimming.
Topairy pruning may be necessary several times during
the growing season. Broadleaf and narrowleaf
trees and shrubs normally respond well as topiaries.
Removing tree limbs requires a special pruning
technique. Tree limbs that need pruning should be cut
so no stub remains. Do not remove the branch collar.
Make three cuts as shown in the drawing. This lets the
limb fall without ripping the bark down the tree trunk.
