The cold of winter has set in. Plants have gone dormant as temperatures fall. Almost nothing moves. Now is the perfect time to prune trees. What should you do? These simple suggestions will help you improve fruit and foliage as the weather warms. Pruning can also eliminate damaged branches or dead branches. Pruning will bring health and sunlight as the weather warms up.
What To Cut
You should pay attention to suckers first. They must be removed. Those are the branches that grow straight up. Remove broken or inward facing branches next. This allows light to pass through and keeps humidity and disease at bay. After the center is cleared, it is necessary to cut at the collar while thinning branches. Even when leaves are present, foliage should not rub together At this time you can prune the main leader.
Why Prune
Pruning extends the life of the plant. [1]According to most plant experts, you should prune no more than 1/4 of the old growth to encourage new growth. You can shape a dormant plant by cutting it back: evergreens benefit from this technique. A pruning job usually involves working with a plant’s natural growth pattern as it develops, as well as maintaining mature trees and shrubs. Pruning leaves healthy, beautifully-shaped fruit trees or shrubs looking like they’ve never been touched.
Winter is not a time to rest. It is a time of preparation. Pruning is just one way to think spring.
Notes:
- ^https://www.vintagetreecare.com/why-is-pruning-important#:~:text=Tree%20Pruning%20Encourages%20Tree%20Growth%20and%20Structure&text=Maintaining%20the%20tree’s%20structure%20helps,broken%20limbs%20and%20falling%20branches.&text=Structural%20pruning%20can%20also%20greatly,grow%20in%20the%20desired%20fashion. (go back ↩)
