Bulletin E-Edition:
When pruning, look before you leap
By Leon Pantenburg / For The Bulletin
Published: March 17. 2009 4:00AM PST
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Pruning trees and shrubs can be an intimidating process for many people. After all, you don’t want to kill an expensive tree or shrub by hacking it up, or cutting off the wrong branches. But if you don’t prune new plants correctly, they may grow into a shape you eventually dislike. And lack of pruning can lead to disease and the early death of some trees.
Knowing when to prune can take some of the guesswork and concern out of this garden chore. And pruning is one of the few tasks you can do right now to get your gardening fix.
In general, the best time to prune plants is while they are dormant in the winter, says Steve Edwards, horticulture program assistant with the Oregon State University Extension Service. In most parts of Central Oregon, plants are usually dormant until about mid-March, he said, but careful pruning can be done virtually year-round.
“The old adage is that the best time to prune is when the shears are sharp,” Edwards said. “It’s best not to prune after the buds have started to come out, because that can cause a setback.” So check your trees and shrubs carefully for new buds. If none have emerged, now is a great time for pruning.
Dead limbs and branches may be pruned off at any time, he added. If you’re unsure if a branch is really dead, scratch the bark with a fingernail. A living branch will appear green beneath the bark. A little light trimming in the spring is probably OK, but this isn’t the time for drastic pruning.
Before cutting off anything, Edwards advises looking at the tree and figuring out how it will fit into the overall landscape scheme.
“Look at a picture, or a good example of that variety as a mature tree, and decide what you’re trying to do,” Edwards said. “Decide what role that tree or shrub is going to have and prune accordingly.”
If the tree’s main purpose will be to provide shade, it could be shaped so it becomes more bushy at the top. Depending on the type of tree, Edwards said, the best idea is to start pruning early to steer it toward the shape you want.
Another common situation in Central Oregon is that people buy property with mature or neglected fruit trees. This happens so frequently that OSU extension offers a free special publication called “How to Prune a Neglected Old Apple Tree.”
How do you tell if a plant needs pruning? Edwards says to proceed slowly.
“Look at the tallest branch — that branch is the leader,” he said. “Do your pruning around it, with the idea of keeping it healthy.”
Cut off dead or dying branches. If any branches are crossing, remove one, or both will end up dying. Remove any suckers or shoots from the main branches.
But don’t get carried away, Edwards advises. A common mistake in this area is “topping” a tree, he said, where all the branches are cut back to a certain height. This results in a club-like top, where shoots pop out.
“This will weaken the tree,” he added, “and you’ll have problems down the road.”
Edwards has these tips for pruners:
• “Never take off more than one-third of the growth in any year,” he advises. “You shouldn’t remove more than one-third of the total volume.”
• Get good-quality, sharp tools. Dull tools may tear the branches and cause unnecessary trauma to the bark.
• Whenever you see a branch that looks weak, or has a bad angle between it and the trunk, remove it.
• Proceed slowly.
“You have a broad window of opportunity, and you don’t have to do all the pruning on a plant in one shot,” Edwards said. “You can always go back and cut off more branches, but you can’t add any.”
Leon Pantenburg can be reached at lpantenburg@bendbroadband.com.
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