Landscape Pruning Why we prune How to prune When we prune
Why we prune Health of tree Maintain size and shape Aesthetics Promote flowering and fruiting
Increase Property Values!
Pruning Step by Step 1. Assess 2. Remove dead, diseased and broken branches 3. Remove crossing branches 4. Remove suckers and watersprouts 5. Reduce size if needed 6. Thin as needed 7. Final shaping cuts for aesthetic purposes
Step 1 - Assess Blocking walkways Blocking Views Open up to let sun and expose interest branching structur
Thin! Assess
Step 2 - Remove Deadwood
Step 2 - Remove Disease Diseased Black Knot fungus on cherry branch Healthy Scratch test
Fire Blight on Apple or Pear Resources http://plantpath.osu.edu/ http://ohioline.osu.edu/ Botanical Garden Garden Centers
Sanitation 10% 90% Some plant diseases can be spread with pruners
Step 3 - Eliminate crossing branches Rubbing wears away protective bark
Which one goes?
What s the ultimate goal?
Step 4 Remove Watersprouts and Suckers Grafts
Watersprouts on stressed cherry tree in Lakewood Park
Step 5 Reduction cuts
A B C Reduction cuts on Buckeye at Holden Arbor Don t take off more than a third of the cano
Yews Open them up so sunlight can penetrate
Hedges Good Shape Not as Good
Good shape so sunlight can hit all parts of the shrub
Stimulating Lateral Growth by removing the central stem
Redirecting growth Prune back to an outwardly facing branch or bud
Which way do we want it to grow?
Redirecting growth based on where we make our cuts
Types of Branching Maples, Buckeyes, Ash, Dogwood, Catalpa Most other large trees
Cutting branches that are opposite Red Twig Dogwood
Small Space Options Espaliered Cornelian Cherry Dogwood
Where s the Sun?
Where s the Sun? Exposure to sunlight will affect growth
Step 6 Thin as needed
Japanese Maple too flat and congested
After a couple years of pruning
Removing up to a third of old wood Lilac Forsythia Viburnum Rose of Sharon Burning Bush Weigela Mahonia Mock Orange
Rejuvination Pruning Red Twig Dogwoods, Spirea, Potentilla, smokebush and shrubby willows can be cut to the ground!
Get them off to a good start! arborday.org
How long should my tree live? 4,000-year-old+ Bristlecone Pine But urban trees average only about 10 years because of poor conditions and abuse
Develop strong branch angles on shade trees early Strong Weak
Competing Leaders Snip them off while they are small
Red Maple needs a cable because a weak crotch angle was allowed to develop
Branches equally distributed around trunk
Replacing a Broken Central Leader Bending
More Bending
Peter Cook s living artwork Even More Bending!
Cut willow twigs used in a winter display
Willow twigs root easily
The new willow is then fun to bend and prune into various shapes
But difficult to reduce Pruning Conifers Pinch back new growth to maintain size
Prune for Aesthetics
Making Pruning Cuts
Where is the Branch Collar?
Where is the Branch Collar?
Making Heavier Cuts
Oops!
Making Heavier Cuts
ld cuts sealing over
Avoid Stub Cuts
This part will die Avoid Stub Cuts
Avoid Stub Cuts Where is the branch collar?
Avoid Topping Results
Exception
Caution!
Finding the right tree company City list of Registered Tree Contractors
Bypass Pruners Proper Tools Anvil Pruners
More Tools
Prune to encourage flowering & fruiting
Prune to maximize fruiting
Prune to Promote Flowering
Grapes
When to Prune?
Flower Bud Set Hydrangeas
What s my shrub? Apps Keys LeafSnap for IPhone Like that Garden for Android Virginia Tech Tree ID Key online
Plants that bloom on old wood Prior to July 1
Lilac pruned too late in the season Forsythia flower buds survived the cold winter under the cover of
A zone 6 plant should be able to survive cold winters down to -10 degrees
Plants that bloom on new growth Generally after July 1
Summer pruning can increase Oak Wilt (coat wound with latex paint to deter the beetle) Fire Blight on Apples, Pears and Hawthorns Stem Cankers on Honey Locusts chances of disease
Final Thoughts Plant at the right depth
Final Thoughts Mulch the ground not the tree trunks Results!
Final Thoughts Roots should emerge straight out from around the trunk
Beauty Cleaner healthier people w live long Less stormwa runoff in Lake Erie Shaded house sa up to 30 on summ energy costs Higher property values
Promoting a greener, healthier and more vibrant community KEEP Lakewood BEAUTIFUL Cleveland Botanical Garden/Holden Arboretum rrensel@cbgarden.org Lakewood Forestry Division (216) 529-6810 Onelakewood.com Chris.Perry@lakewoodoh.net