A Refresher Course on Pruning

Pruning is a subject that baffles more than a few people. When do I prune? Where do I prune? Why do I prune in the first place? There’s a subtle art and skill to pruning and it begins with knowledge, and it’s honed over time with practice. After a few passes at a shrub or small tree, it all begins to make sense. Soon pruning will become second nature and you’ll be pruning like a pro.

As leaves fall, we begin to examine the trunk and branches, sort of the skeleton, if you will, of a deciduous tree or shrub in the landscape. At this moment we can assess the structure, seeing what we need to cut, for improved shape, growth, and to cut away any diseased, damaged, or dead branches.

A Seal of Approval

When you prune a tree, you create a wound. Trees seal around a wound by forming a callus ring. Slowly it will seal towards the center of this ring. Obviously, the smaller the wound you create, meaning the less surface area of the cut, the quicker the wound will seal, and the sooner your tree will be ‘out of the woods’ in terms of disease or pest infestation.

The point at which a branch grows off of the trunk is called the branch collar. The next time you are looking at a large tree, take time to notice it. It’s a swollen area of fusion between the trunk and the branch.

Avoid the Flush Cut

There is a tendency to cut a tree branch off as close to the trunk as possible. This is called a ‘flush cut’. This creates a great deal more exposed surface area. As I mentioned before, this takes longer to seal and provides an advantageous entry point for disease and pests.

The ideal way to cut a branch is to find where the collar seems to taper and the branch begins. Over the course of years the cut will slowly seal and you’ll have a robust, healthy tree.

Keep ‘Em Sharp

Another quick note is to maintain the sharpness of all of your pruning tools from hand tools to hedge trimmers to chain saws. Ragged, uneven cuts produce more wound than is necessary. A clean, smooth cut does as little harm to the plant as possible, plus, sharp tools are a heck of a lot easier to deal with. See you local servicing STIHL dealer for advice, instruction, and new blades or chain to maintain a sharp tool, and a sharp looking landscape.
For a solid base of knowledge and advice on pruning, check out the STIHL Pruning Guide at www.stihllibrary.com/pdf/FINAL_pruning_bk.pdf .

See you next time with more helpful tips from GardenPower with Joe Sherinski and your Local STIHL Dealer!

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Pruning—Episode #0101

See some Pruning in Action

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Bonus Video: October Gardening Tips

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