Trim trees, shrubs in the dormant season for
stronger, healthier plants
Send a link to a friend
[January 21, 2022]
Throughout the growing season, gardeners and
arborists talk about the benefits of pruning woody ornamentals while
they are dormant, and that time is almost here. |
Pruning can seem like a daunting task, but it is
an important cultural practice for the health and vigor of many
trees and shrubs. Pruning is done to reduce the size and shape of
the plant, increase flower or fruit production, and promote sound
structure.
The correct time to prune deciduous shrubs and trees is determined
by the plant’s growth habit, bloom time, and health or condition.
Timing will depend on the species, but any time is a good time to
remove dead, dying, or broken branches. Be sure to sanitize tools
between plants with a 10% bleach solution or undiluted 70% isopropyl
alcohol. Sanitize between each cut if a disease is suspected.
Spring flowering shrubs, such as lilac or forsythia, will bloom on
the growth from the previous last growing season, sometimes called
"old wood". The best time to prune a healthy plant is immediately
after flowering in spring. Overgrown shrubs may need more extensive
pruning through rejuvenation or renewal methods in late winter or
early spring. Heavy pruning methods may lead to fewer blooms for a
few years, but will improve the overall health of the shrub.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Jan/21/images/ads/current/humanesociety_sda022411.png)
Summer blooming shrubs, or those that bloom after July 1, produce
blooms on the current year’s growth. These are best pruned in late
winter or early spring.
Do not prune deciduous shrubs in late summer as that will encourage
a flush of new growth that will not have the opportunity to harden
off before winter, leaving the plant susceptible to frost damage and
dieback
Many of the same rules for shrubs also apply to deciduous trees.
Most will respond well to late winter pruning, including fruit
trees. Performing this task on trees in the dormant season gives the
pruner an increased visibility of the tree’s shape without any
leaves and enough time for proper wound closure for the plant. When
branches are cut correctly at a node or at the branch collar, the
plant will seal wounds properly to prevent the spread of decay and
entry for potential pests and pathogens. [to top of second
column] |
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Jan/21/images/ads/current/farmersbank_lda_LUAL_2021.png)
There are some exceptions to early spring
pruning. To reduce the spread of oak wilt disease, oaks should
not be pruned from March through October. River birch will
respond best to cuts made in late fall or early winter after
leaves have fallen and when sap flow is reduced.
Pruning techniques on evergreens will vary depending on the
species and desired effect. Fall pruning is not recommended for
evergreens, as any new growth will be susceptible to winter
injury. Evergreen shrubs such as juniper and yew can be pruned
in March or April before new growth emerges. Evergreen trees
such as pine, spruce, and fir generally require very little
pruning, and removing lower branches is not advisable as it
compromises the structural integrity of the tree.
Spruce and fir trees have lateral buds on the newest growth.
These are buds that grow from the sides of the branch, not the
ends. To create a more dense form, prune back to these lateral
buds in early spring. Pines only grow from terminal buds at the
end of the branch. Pines are pruned in spring or early summer at
the candle stage by removing two-thirds of the elongated bud. Do
not cut branches back to older growth as they will not develop
new growth from those areas.
Relieve the winter blues by choosing the next calm, sunny,
40-degree day to put on boots and get some sunshine. The
improved health of your trees and shrubs will be worth it.
[SOURCE: Sarah Vogel, Horticulture
Educator, University of Illinois Extension]
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Jan/21/images/ads/current/rohlfs_lda_072017.png) |