 Most pruning can be done with three pieces of equipment. The most
used piece is a pair of bypass pruning shears. These shears will cut
up to about 3/8-inch comfortably, and they make sharp cuts that
don't tear or crush. There are still anvil-type shears available,
but their use is mainly in vineyards to girdle grapevine ends. The
second piece of equipment is a bypass lopper. Loppers can cut up to
about 1.5-inch wood, depending on the type and size. If you have the
money, a good set of compound-action loppers would be a good
investment. The third piece of equipment is a pruning saw. These can
come in several shapes, sizes and price ranges. For smaller limbs, a
folding or straight pruning saw is a good buy. For larger limbs, a
bow saw may be needed. The maneuverability and ease of use are key
points when selecting a saw.
The time of year we prune various trees and shrubs is important.
Most trees and shrubs that aren't flowering in nature should be
pruned between December and mid-March. Flowering trees and shrubs
should be done after they flower. Evergreens are best pruned in late
June. With oak wilt in the area, oaks should be pruned in December
to lessen sap flow, which attracts virus-carrying beetles. And
(except on those oak trees) any branch that hits you in the face
when you are mowing should be cut off immediately!
Basic pruning should serve to remove poor branches, keep the
plant growing aggressively and do a little bit with shaping a plant.
Poor branches mean bad angles from a trunk or main branch, dead
branches, branches that rub together, or multiple leaders. As far as
keeping a plant growing aggressively, remember that pruning is a
rejuvenation process. Regular pruning also produces more 2-year-old
wood that produces fruit on fruit trees and flowers on flowering
trees and shrubs. Minor shaping and sizing are possible, but major
changes probably mean a different plant should be selected.
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When making a pruning cut, the key is to cut back to something.
Branch tips can be cut back to a bud, and entire branches can be cut
back to another branch or the main trunk. When making the cut to a
branch or trunk, cut to the edge of the collar (about one-sixteenth
of an inch from the other branch). Cutting too close to the other
branch destroys the water-carrying tissue, and leaving a stub will
guarantee a rotten branch stub (that will eventually rot into the
main branch or trunk). If you are making cuts on large branches, it
is best to cut once about 18 inches from the main branch, then make
a second cut to leave the one-sixteenth-inch collar. This will help
prevent the cut branch from tearing other branches.
Topping a tree lessens weight and reduces size, for a short
period of time. Within five years of topping, you will generally
have more weight and growth than you would have had without topping.
Hopefully these basic pruning hints will help you get started on
the right foot. Remember the golden rule of pruning: "If you think
you've cut out too much, you're probably about right."
Russel Allen Garden Day
The 2013 Russel Allen Garden Day will be on Saturday, March 9.
This event is dedicated to Russel Allen, who was a charter Logan
County Master Gardener, and this program is provided in his memory.
The sessions will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Meyer-Evans
Student Center at Lincoln College.
Registration cost is $10 in advance or $12 at the door.
Registration can be done at the Extension office, 980 N. Postville
Drive in Lincoln, or online at
https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/
?RegistrationID=7868.
[By
JOHN FULTON,
University of Illinois Extension] |
