2021 Spring Home and Garden

2021 Spring Home & Garden LINCOLN DAILY NEWS April 22, 2021 Page 35 root system will fit. Full size trees should have the graft below the soil line or at the depth it was planted at when at the nursery. The dwarf and semi-dwarf should have the graft about three inches above the soil line. If you know your soil is deficient in nutrients, place nutrients such as phosphorus, potassium, or lime in with the tree. Pruning promotes new growth, allows for better air movement within the tree for helping reduce disease pressure, and allows for easier spraying and picking. The three main tools for pruning are pruning shears, loppers, and a saw. The shears and loppers should be the bypass type, as this produces clean cuts without crushing. Pruning is more of an art than a science, and takes time. The best time for most fruit trees is during dormancy such as December to early March. Cherries are the exception due to disease concerns, and they are best pruned in the summer. There are a few basic places to start: take out branches going straight up or straight down, take out branches growing toward the center of the tree, and eliminate crossing branches. Proper pruning will cut back to a bud or branch to direct growth in the desired direction. CONTINUED u