Pruning Trees Properly: 5 Steps to Reducing Plant Stress

  • Dec 27, 2020

Good afternoon, my reader. Pruning plants is a must, without which the tree will look overgrown and unkempt. Removing excess branches also affects yield, reduces the risk of disease transmission to healthy branches and forms a crown.

Pruning plants. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com
Pruning plants. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com
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However, this necessary action can harm fruit crops. To reduce the risk of plant damage, consider the following 5 rules.

Timing of trimming

A suitable time for the activity under study is early spring or late autumn. The reason for this choice is simple: at this time, trees are subject to the least stress, and the likelihood of pest attack or disease is small.

Pruning should be started when the growing season is over and the plant is dormant. A sign of such a transition is that the tree has dropped all the leaves. But if you notice damaged branches, they must be removed immediately, without waiting for the right time.

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Make a cut before removing the branch

Carefully make an incision on the underside of the branch, this will avoid breakage close to the trunk and damage to the entire tree later. The cut must be done carefully, avoiding bark sagging at the base of the branches.

Pruning plants. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com

Cut branches at a distance from the trunk

Departing from the cut made, saw off the selected branch. Then it can be burned or destroyed in another way, and a twig will remain in its place. Use a saw to remove thick branches.

Cut the knot correctly

The twig left after removing the branch must be shortened next to the annular bead. This measure promotes rapid regeneration of the tree and reduces the stress of pruning. Similar to the branches, what is left of them is removed from the bottom side to the top.

Treat instruments before and after the procedure

To prevent transmission of infection through pruning shears or pruning shears, carefully disinfect the tools used when pruning. After each removed branch, you need to rinse and process the secateurs.

The following tools are useful for trimming:

  • manual pruner;
  • lopper;
  • hand saw;
  • stairs.

Tips you might find useful

  1. A pruner is suitable for removing small twigs. Larger ones, about 2 cm in diameter, are best cut with a lopper, and a hand saw is required to remove the largest and most powerful parts of the tree.
  2. To disinfect instruments, prepare a capacious container with alcohol in which they can be completely dipped.
  3. Before you start shaping the crown of trees, study the optimal pruning timing for your region. They can vary greatly by country.
Pruning plants. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com

Avoid these mistakes

  1. Insufficient equipment. In no case wear open clothing, otherwise there is a high risk of harm to yourself. Wear a long-sleeved jacket, glasses, and gloves before trimming.
  2. Removing the top of the tree. This is a poor way to adjust the height of the stem, and it will cause serious damage to the plant. Even if the tree is very tall, do not take this path.
  3. If you are designing a hedge made of conifers, do not remove the green parts. This can lead to the cessation of growth of the coniferous tree cover.
Pruning trees seems difficult and time-consuming only at first glance. Taking into account the basic rules of the process, avoiding mistakes and taking it seriously, you are guaranteed to form crowns of plants and improve yields.

Do you know the rules for pruning fruit trees?

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