Presented by Dr. Teri Hamlin Georgia Department of Education

1. Landscape Pruning Trees The appearance of a properly pruned plant is like a good hair cut: hardly noticeable at first glance. Presented by Dr. Teri Hamlin Georgia Department of Education

2. Pruning • Pruning at Planting: • If quality plant stock, pruning is not necessary • Do not prune to compensate for root loss • latest research show pruning does not help overcome transplant shock

3. Why Prune • Removal of dead, broken, diseased, or insect-infested branches • Maintain desired shape & size (make it look natural) • Promote healthy vigorous growth • Promote flowering & fruiting • Allow air and light to enter the interior of the plant.

4. Pruning ToolsSharp&Sterile

5. Pruning Tools • Hand Shears: branches up to ½” in diameter • Lopping Shears: branches ½ to 1 ½” in diameter • Pruning Saw: branches larger than 1 ½” in diamter • Chain Saw: branches larger than 3” • Pole Pruner: long-handled pruner to reach into canopy w/o a ladder. (power pole pruner) • Hedge Shears: hedges and other shrubs up to ½” in diameter • Grass shears: 2 blades designed to cut grass around edges of walks or flower beds.

6. Making the Cut Directional Pruning- cuts should be about ¼ in above bud or beyond branch collar

7. Making the Cut

8. Pruning Technique • Heading • Removes a part of a shoot • Thinning • Removes the entire shoot or limb

9. Pruning Technique Thinning Selectively cutting oldest branches to ground opens center and promotes new growth

10. Pruning TechniqueHeading • Use for small leaf hedges • Creates dense, tight foliage

11. Rejuvenating/Renewal • Restore overgrown shrubs • Cut all branches 4-8” above ground • If there are any diseased or dead plants you should remove them first.

12. Crown Thinning • No more than one-fourth of the living branches should be removed at one time

13. Crown Raising • Remove branch from bottom to provide clearance • After pruning the ratio of living crown to total tree height should be at least two-thirds

14. Crown Reduction Ratio of live crown to total tree height should be at least two-thirds Never cut main branches of tree back to stubs (Topping Trees)

15. Pruning Young Tree • A. Remove suckers • B. Low Growing Branches interfere w/maintenance practices • C. Upright growing shoots or waterspouts • D. Inward growing branches • E. Branches that compete with a central leader

16. Large Limbs • A. Make partial cut from underneath • B. Make a second cut from above several inches out • allows the limb to fall • C. Complete job with final cut just outside the branch collar

17. Pruning Limbs An Improper Cut made through the branch collar will take 3x longer to heal

18. Pruning TimeGeneral Rule • Trees & Plants that flower before May • Prune after bloom • Dogwood, Redbud, Saucer Magnolia, Flowering Cherry • Azalea, Forsythia, Rhododendron, Clematis, Climbing roses • Trees & Plants that flower after May • Prune prior to spring growth • Chaste Tree, Crape Myrtle, Sourwood • Camellia, Nandina, Sweetshrub, Abelia, Floribunda roses

19. North Carolina Pruning Time • January - March • Broadleaf evergreen • Needleaf evergreen • Renewal Pruning • Large Tree Limbs

21. Pruning Paint “Placebo” - making the user feel good Research shows that paint or wound dressings do not stop decay nor cause the wound to close faster • Correct Tools • Correct Time • Correct Technique Successful Pruning

25. www.planitdiy.com/how-to-prune-trees-and-shrubs/

26. What To Prune? • On your Pruning Worksheet put a line through the parts of the tree or shrub that you feel should be pruned and tell why. • Mark in pencil so you can make corrections if needed.

27. Plant #1:Create a central leader on this young plant.

28. Plant #2:Allow plant to have a higher canopy

29. Plant #3:Open the Canopy