Pruning is the process of removing sections of plants (such as roots, leaves, and flowers) in a measured way. However, it isn't done solely for the sake of appearance. Pruning shrubs and trees helps in the production of flowers, fruits, and new foliage by removing dead or diseased stems and branches and encouraging the growth of flowers, fruit, and new foliage.
PRUNING TREES
Pruning should be done on any branches or stems that are dead, dying, diseased, or broken. It's possible to do this at any time of year, but the earlier the better.
Trimming or pruning a tree during the dormant season is always encouraged the best option. While a pine tree can be pruned at any time, it is best to do so while the tree is dormant.
Keep in mind the scale of the branch you'll be removing. It's good to remove it if it's less than five centimeters in diameter. You do not want to do that if the diameter is between five and ten centimeters.
Remove overlapping branches, or at the very least prune one of the offending limbs. Branches that brush together will chafe, allowing insects and disease to enter.
Only the branches with weak, V-shaped, narrow angles should be trimmed. Branches with solid, U-shaped angles should be held.
When branches are young, try to prune them down. They're much easier to deal with at that stage, especially using a pole saw will be much easier to cut and reach, and the possibility of leaving unsightly scars to the tree is significantly reduced. When the pruning is finished, the living crown to tree height ratio should be two-thirds.
PRUNING HEDGES
Regardless of whether the top is smooth, pointed, or rounded, a sheared hedge should be wider at the bottom and narrower at the top. This will be easily achieved by using a hedge trimmer.
If you're starting from scratch, select plants that naturally grow upright and close, such as those with the words 'columnar' or 'fastigiate' in their names.
If your hedge is overgrown and aged, use the three-year rule to rejuvenate it. Remove up to one-third of the thickest stems at the plant's base to promote new growth; repeat the process the next year and the year after that. As a result, you'll have a smaller, healthier shrub.
Starting in the spring, evergreen and deciduous hedges need regular pruning. Remove broken or dead branches from lilac or other deciduous shrubs with loppers or hand pruners while maintaining the shape of the shrub. Shear evergreen hedges in a formal environment to keep their shape and size in check.
Hedge and tree maintenance does not require a great deal of expertise. With the right equipment, particularly our ultimate 2-in-1 tool, the 2-in-1 hedge trimmer and pole saw, and the proper knowledge, you can easily care for and maintain it.
