When should plants be pruned? How to prune? A comprehensive guide

Pruning is an indispensable and important part of plant care. Mastering the correct pruning methods can cultivate a beautiful tree shape. Through pruning, you can further regulate the distribution of nutrients in plants, inhibit excessive growth, and promote flower bud differentiation, achieving the effect of young trees blooming and fruiting earlier, and can extend the flowering and fruiting periods. It can be said to have many benefits. Today I will introduce the pruning methods for plants, so remember them well!

1

Dormant season pruning

Deciduous trees are mostly pruned during this period. Evergreen trees do not have an obvious dormant period, and winter pruning will have adverse effects on the tree body. Pruning is usually carried out in late spring after the severe cold season has passed.

2Growing season pruning

Also called summer pruning, the pruning time should not be too late, otherwise it easily promotes the growth of secondary shoots and consumes nutrients, which is unfavorable for the growth of new shoots. At the same time, the pruning amount should be appropriate; excessive pruning will reduce nutrient accumulation and is unfavorable for plant growth.

3

Pruning of deciduous trees

1) Pay attention to maintaining the growth vigor of the terminal shoot. On the branch points, leave a primary framework branch every 20-25 cm. On the framework branches, also maintain their apical growth advantage and retain a secondary branch at a certain distance, and so on. Remove excessive growth branches, drooping branches, etc.;

2) Evergreen broadleaf trees: preserve the central main branch well, handle the framework branches reasonably, and keep the branches evenly distributed;

3) Evergreen conifers: when pruning, just pay attention to cultivating and balancing the growth vigor. Under normal circumstances, no pruning is carried out, but be careful to avoid forming a double-trunk or double-leader phenomenon.

4

Hedge pruning

Hedges generally have strong sprouting ability, strong branching ability, and are tolerant of pruning. Generally, formal pruning is the main method, keeping the appearance neat and beautiful, and avoiding hollowness inside and bareness at the lower part.

5

Pruning of vines

Generally, full shaping and pruning are rarely carried out. The main method is to shorten side branches, cut off diseased and pest-infested branches and dead branches, and properly thin out weak branches.

6

Pruning of spring-flowering plants

Taking redbud, crabapple, and white magnolia as examples, prune within 1-2 weeks after flowering to reduce nutrient consumption, promote more side branches, and increase the amount of flowering next year; during the winter dormant period, flower buds have basically formed, and flower buds and leaf buds can be clearly distinguished. Branches can be properly thinned, removing slender weak branches, diseased and dead branches, sprouting branches, and branches without flower buds can be properly cut off.

7

Pruning of summer and autumn flowering plants

Taking pomegranate, rose of Sharon, hydrangea, and crape myrtle as examples, prune before flowering; during the dormant period, shorten the branches to promote the growth of robust branches in spring.

8

Pruning of winter-flowering plants

Taking wintersweet, Hong Kong orchid tree, and plum blossom as examples, after the winter and spring flowers fade, shorten the flowering branches in turn, leaving 3-5 nodes per branch, to promote axillary buds to sprout and form more new side branches. During the growing period, regularly thin out excessive growth branches, densely growing branches, overlapping branches, etc.

9

Pruning of plants that bloom multiple times a year

Taking rose and crape myrtle as examples, after winter begins, shorten all branches to promote the sprouting of strong branches. After the flowers fade, promptly cut off the remaining flowers. During the growing period, promptly remove sprouting buds to promote the formation of new flower buds.

10

General procedure for pruning

1) Observe:Observe the inherent growth habits of the pruning target and the specific site conditions, whether the distribution structure of the main and side branches of the tree is reasonable, whether the growth vigor between the main and side branches and the upper and lower parts of the canopy is balanced, whether the relationship between vegetative growth and reproductive growth is coordinated, etc. After comprehensive analysis, determine the corresponding pruning technical measures.

2) Remove:First saw off some perennial large branches, even skeletal branches, that affect the growth and development of the tree, destroy the tree structure, disrupt the tree shape, or are damaged by pests and diseases, so that the tree basically meets the purpose and requirements of shaping and pruning.

3) Cut:On the basis that the structural form of the tree body basically meets the target requirements, then carry out specific pruning of each main and side branch, following the principle of keeping strong branches and not keeping weak ones, keeping outward-facing branches and not keeping inward-facing ones, and using techniques such as heading back and thinning branches to make the tree shaping more complete.

4) Check:After pruning is basically completed, carefully recheck the entire tree body, correct or supplement pruning for places that were wrongly cut or missed, and from the perspective of the group, check what influence adjacent trees have on each other and make adjustments.

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